BEIJING, April 14: In a tit-for-tat response, China has imposed visa restrictions on U.S. officials accused of acting “egregiously” on Tibet-related matters. This move follows Washington’s recent decision to enforce additional visa curbs on Chinese officials under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018.
The U.S. visa restrictions target Chinese officials allegedly complicit in limiting access to Tibetan areas for American diplomats, journalists, and other international observers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Beijing’s longstanding refusals to grant access to Tibet, contrasting it with the broader freedoms enjoyed by Chinese officials and journalists in the U.S.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced the retaliatory measures during a press briefing. He said the restrictions were enacted under China’s Law on Foreign Relations and the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. Emphasizing China’s sovereignty, Lin reiterated that “Tibet affairs are purely China’s internal matters,” referring to the region by its Chinese name, Xizang.
Lin further asserted that China is open to foreign visitors traveling or conducting business in Xizang, but strongly opposes any misuse of such visits to interfere in Tibet’s human rights, religious, or cultural matters. “China firmly opposes interference and sabotage by ill-intentioned individuals under the guise of human rights concerns,” he added.
The escalating visa restrictions mark a new chapter in the growing tensions between the two global powers, with both nations accusing each other of politicising access to Tibet and related sensitive issues.
