Beijing: In a tit-for-tat move, China announced visa restrictions on U.S. officials accused of acting “egregiously” on Tibet-related matters.
This follows Washington’s recent decision to impose additional visa curbs on Chinese officials under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated during a briefing that the restrictions were implemented under China’s Law on Foreign Relations and Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.
“Tibet affairs are purely China’s internal matters,” Lin emphasised, referring to Tibet as Xizang, the region’s Chinese name.
The U.S. 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 longstanding refusals by Beijing to grant access to these areas, contrasting it with the broader freedoms enjoyed by Chinese officials and journalists in the U.S.
Lin countered by asserting China’s openness to foreign visitors traveling or conducting business in Xizang while opposing any misuse of such visits to meddle in Tibet’s human rights, religious, or cultural matters.
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“China firmly opposes interference and sabotage by ill-intentioned individuals under the guise of human rights concerns,” he added.
The escalating visa restrictions reflect growing tensions between the two nations, with both sides accusing each other of politicising access to Tibet and related issues.
