US imposes visa restrictions against Chinese officials

The HEAD of the US State Department , Anthony Blinken, announced the introduction of restrictive measures against Chinese officials involved in "repressive acts" against national minorities, according to the department's website.

“Today’s measure includes visa restrictions on PRC officials who we believe are responsible for policies or actions aimed at suppressing religious and spiritual practitioners, members of ethnic minorities, dissidents, human rights activists, journalists, labor organizers, civil society organizers and peaceful protesters in CHINA and beyond,” the statement said.

Washington called on the Chinese government to “put an end to the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, repressive policies in Tibet, suppression of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, and human rights violations and abuses, including violations of religious freedom, in other parts of the country."

The State Department statement lists "harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and kidnapping of members of ethnic and religious minorities," as well as US citizens who speak on behalf of these groups, as violations committed by the Chinese side.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the United States, told TASS that the human rights problems identified by the United States "do not exist" in China and spoke out against the restrictions.