Beijing will impose ‘reciprocal restrictions’ on US diplomats in China – including Hong Kong
- Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian calls the measures an ‘appropriate, mandatory response’ to Washington’s move last week
- Under that rule change, Chinese diplomats in America must get permission before they can meet government officials or visit university campuses
US diplomats in China will be subject to new restrictions after Beijing announced on Friday that it would retaliate against Washington’s decision to limit the movement of Chinese diplomats in America.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a statement that China would impose “reciprocal restrictions” on all US embassies and consulates on Chinese soil, including the consulate in Hong Kong, without giving further details.
“The US practice has severely violated international law and basic norms governing international relations and disrupted China-US relations and normal exchanges between the two sides,” Zhao said.
“These new requirements on PRC [People’s Republic of China] diplomats are a direct response to the excessive restraints already placed on our diplomats by the PRC, and they aim to provide further transparency on the practices of the PRC government,” Pompeo said.
“Should the PRC eliminate the restrictions imposed on US diplomats, we stand ready to reciprocate.”
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