Beijing to slap visa curbs on US officials for ‘behaving poorly’ on Hong Kong

Beijing will impose visa restrictions on “US personnel who have behaved poorly on Hong Kong-related issues” in response to Washington’s threats to sanction officials responsible for implementing the national security law, China’s foreign ministry has said.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning revealed the move on Tuesday when responding to a reporter’s question on Beijing’s countermeasures to planned sanctions by the US State Department.

She said Beijing had stated its position to the US.

“The United States, by using Hong Kong-related issues to impose indiscriminate visa restrictions on Chinese officials, has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs and seriously violated the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations,” Mao said.

“China has decided to impose visa restrictions on US personnel who have behaved poorly on Hong Kong-related issues.”

She reiterated that the city’s local affairs were the country’s internal matters, and urged the US to earnestly respect the nation’s sovereignty, as well as Hong Kong’s legal system, and “stop interfering in Hong Kong’s life by any means.”