Beijing, China
China warned Tuesday that it will retaliate against U.S after Washington announced it will not issue visas to Chinese officials suspected of human rights violations.
The head of US diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, on Monday announced an entry ban on all Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials involved in “repressive activities.”
Pompey He referred to “repression of religious practices”, “ethnic minorities”, “dissidents”, “human rights defenders”, “journalists”, “trade unionists”, civil society activists or “peaceful protesters”.
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The family members of any affected official will also not be issued a U.S. visa. In response, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said his country “strongly” condemns the Trump administration’s decision.
China “will continue to take legitimate and necessary steps to resolutely defend its interests,” he warned.
The United States has applied multiple visa restrictions on Chinese officials or students in recent months as part of its offensive against China, which has become the main strategic opponent of the world’s leading power.
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The US State Department canceled visas for more than 1,000 students and researchers suspected of espionage and banned those responsible for violations of Uyghur Muslims’ rights or repression in Hong Kong from entering the United States.
China, for its part, announced in early December that it will sanction US officials who have “behaved badly” towards Hong Kong.