China imposes visa restrictions on US personnel over Tibet

BEIJING – China has announced visa restrictions on some US personnel who “behaved badly” on Tibet-related issues, its Foreign Ministry said on April 14.

The announcement at a regular news conference came after Washington imposed additional visa restrictions two weeks ago on Chinese officials involved in policies governing foreigners’ access to Tibetan areas.

The United States has accused the Chinese Communist Party of refusing to afford American diplomats, journalists and other international observers access to Tibet and other Tibetan areas of China, and demanded “unrestricted access” to the areas for US diplomats and others.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tibet-related issues are China’s “internal affairs”, and the “US abuse of visa restrictions on Chinese officials” over Tibet “seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations”.

Foreign tourists are allowed to visit the far western region of Tibet, providing they travel in groups and obtain a permit in advance. Diplomats and foreign journalists need to get the approval of Tibet’s local authorities to go there.

“Tibet is open. China welcomes friendly people from other countries to visit, travel and do business in Tibet,” Mr Lin told reporters.

“But China opposes the interference of any country or person in Tibetan affairs under the pretext of so-called human rights, religion and culture,” he added.

China seized control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a “peaceful liberation” from feudalistic serfdom.

International human rights groups and exiles, however, have routinely condemned what they call China’s oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. REUTERS

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