China on Thursday chastised the United States’ reported implementation of new visa restrictions on Chinese Communist Party (CPC) members and their immediate family members, accusing Washington of an “escalation of political suppression.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying slammed the move and attributed it to “extremist anti-China forces in the United States” acting “out of strong ideological bias and deep-seated Cold-War mentality.”
“China firmly opposes such practice. Instead of serving the interests of the United States, it will only further weaken or damage the country’s self-claimed image of confidence and openness as well as systemic advantages,” the spokesperson said.
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“China urges the U.S. government to view China and China’s development in a more rational, calm and impartial manner, and reject their hatred and distorted sentiments towards the CPC.”
The rebuke follows a report from The New York Times saying that the people targeted under the rule would only be allowed to receive one-month, single-entry visas. It was unclear how the rule would be implemented given that many people who belong to the CPC do not actually have a role in the government.
The visa restriction would mark a parting blow from the outgoing Trump administration, which has feuded with Beijing over an array of issues including trade, blame over the coronavirus pandemic, intellectual property theft and relations between Washington and Taiwan.
Washington has already implemented travel restrictions and slapped sanctions on Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the restriction of political speech in Hong Kong.
Aides to President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenLawsuit alleges 200K Georgia voters were wrongly purged from registration list GOP lawmaker blasts incoming freshman over allegations of presidential voter fraud Haaland has competition to be first Native American to lead Interior MORE have said the incoming administration will open dialogue with China on areas like climate change and combatting COVID-19, but Biden has also indicated he will take a tough approach on trade, saying in September that Beijing is a “serious competitor” and maintaining in an interview this week that he won’t immediately remove the tariffs President TrumpDonald John TrumpFederal watchdog accuses VOA parent company of wrongdoing under Trump appointee Lawsuit alleges 200K Georgia voters were wrongly purged from registration list Ivanka Trump gives deposition in lawsuit alleging misuse of inauguration funds MORE has already implemented.