United States restricts visas for Chinese officials over Tibet

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States has imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in the policy of foreign access to Tibetan areas.

"For too long, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has denied American diplomats, journalists, and other international observers access to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas of China, while Chinese diplomats and journalists enjoy broad access in the United States," Rubio said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The statement did not name any Chinese officials and did not elaborate on the US measures.

"American diplomats are also unable to provide services to American citizens traveling to Tibet. This lack of reciprocity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Rubio said.

He called on China to allow diplomats "unhindered access" to Tibetan areas. China took control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a "peaceful liberation" from feudal serfdom.

International human rights groups and exiles have condemned what they call China's oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. Washington recognizes Tibet as part of China.

The US State Department said it has "repeatedly pressed Chinese authorities to respect religious freedoms for all people and to allow Tibetans to preserve, practice, teach, and develop their religious tradition and language without government interference."

Relations between the US and China have been fluctuating for years over trade tariffs, market access, TikTok ownership, Taiwan, human rights, the origin of COVID-19, and other issues.