China visa restrictions on American personnel over HK 'interference'

Reuters and staff reporter

China has decided to impose visa restrictions on some United States personnel who it said have "behaved badly" on Hong Kong-related issues and interfered in Hong Kong affairs, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

After most of the defendants in the 35+ subversion case were sentenced last month, US authorities said they would impose new visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials in response to the national security law.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Chinese authorities have made clear their "serious position on relevant moves of the US side."

"The US used Hong Kong-related issues to slap visa restrictions on Chinese officials, which grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and seriously violated the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations," Mao said.

"In accordance with the Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China and the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, China decided to impose visa restrictions on US personnel who have acted egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues," she added.

Mao stressed that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, urging the US government to "earnestly respect China's sovereignty, respect Hong Kong's rule of law and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs in whatever form."

"China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard the nation's sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement one country, two systems, and to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong's affairs," she added.

In a statement issued on November 19, the US State Department expressed concern that the "harsh sentences erode confidence in Hong Kong's judicial system and damage the city's international reputation."

The US said it "strongly condemns" the sentences and is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the implementation of the national security law.

In response, the SAR government said the proposed imposition of the so-called "visa restrictions" on Hong Kong officials "smack of despicable political manipulation" to intimidate China and Hong Kong officials safeguarding national security.

"The HKSAR despises such threats and will not be intimidated by such despicable behavior," it said.