Last Updated on September 12, 2020, 9:01 AM AST by Anthony Morris
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Beijing will impose “reciprocal restrictions” on all US diplomats in China in response to the earlier curbs on the activities of the Chinese embassy staff in the US.
The unspecified countermeasures would apply to all American embassy and consulate staff, and also the consulate-general in Hong Kong.
To request the US to repeal its wrong decisions, the Chinese side has recently sent a diplomatic note which is announcing the reciprocal restrictions on US consulates and embassy, the consulate-general in Hong Kong included.
The announcement has come days after China threatened to respond to a new raft of American restrictions on the Chinese diplomats, such as a requirement of seeking approval for holding cultural events with over 50 people outside embassy grounds, meetings with local officials or university visits.
Mike Pompeo, the United States Secretary of State, said last week that the measures were a response to controls on American diplomats who are in China.
It comes as a part of the Trump administration campaign against the alleged Chinese espionage activity and influence operations.
The State Department said that it would also take action to help ensure all Chinese consular and embassy social media accounts were identified properly.
The US Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that multiple rounds of restrictions by Washington on its diplomatic personnel had disrupted the relations between the two nations.
The United States is taking steps for restricting the Chinese activity in the US in the run-up to the November presidential election.
Relations between the two countries are deteriorating amid disputes over trade, Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump has blamed China for failing to adequately respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was initially reported in the city of Wuhan in China towards the end of last year.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
