Tue Apr 01 02:44:47 UTC 2025: **US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Chinese Officials Over Tibet Access**
Washington D.C. – The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials responsible for limiting access to Tibet for US diplomats, journalists, and other international observers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the action on Monday, citing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) long-standing refusal to grant reciprocal access, in violation of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018.
Rubio stated that the CCP’s denial of access to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas, while Chinese officials enjoy unrestricted access to the US, is unacceptable. He urged the CCP to immediately grant unrestricted access to US diplomats and others. The restrictions affect officials involved in formulating or executing policies related to foreign access to Tibetan areas. The move also highlights the difficulties US diplomats face in providing consular services to US citizens traveling in Tibet.
Separately, a US State Department spokesperson condemned China’s call for informants on Taiwan independence as “irresponsible and reprehensible.” The spokesperson described China’s request for citizens to report individuals advocating for Taiwanese independence as part of an intimidation campaign threatening free speech and destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region. The spokesperson characterized the action as a deliberate attempt to undermine the cross-strait status quo.
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