China warned Tuesday, December 22, that it would retaliate against the United States after the country announced it would not issue visas to Chinese officials suspected of human rights violations.
Read also: Washington to deprive Chinese officials suspected of human rights violations of visas
US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo on Monday announced an entry ban on all Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials involved in "
repressive activities
."
Mr. Pompeo spoke of the "
repression of religious practices
", "
ethnic minorities
", "
dissidents
", "
human rights defenders
", "
journalists
", "
trade unionists
", social activists. civilians or "
peaceful protesters
".
The family members of each affected manager will also be deprived of a US visa.
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, said his country “
strongly
”
condemned
the Trump administration's decision.
China "will
continue to take legitimate and necessary measures to resolutely defend its interests,
" he warned.
Washington has already increased visa restrictions in recent months against Chinese officials or students, often in a more targeted manner, as part of its offensive against China, erected as the number one strategic opponent of the world's leading power.
The US State Department has canceled the visas of more than a thousand Chinese students and researchers suspected of spying, and bans entry into the United States to officials involved in violations of the rights of Uyghur Muslims or in repression in Hong Kong.
He also drastically restricted the entry of CCP members.
For its part, Beijing announced in early December that it would sanction American officials who “
behaved badly
” in the Hong Kong dossier.
