China To Impose Visa Curbs On US Citizens Over Tibet

China said on Wednesday it will impose visa restrictions on US citizens who have engaged in what it called "egregious" behaviour over Tibet, in apparent retaliation against Washington’s restrictions on Chinese officials.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday the United States would restrict visas for some Chinese officials because Beijing obstructs travel to Tibet by US diplomats, journalists and tourists, and "human rights abuses" in the Himalayan region.

The moves come as relations between China and the United States deteriorate over trade, technology, the coronavirus pandemic and the new security law imposed in Hong Kong.

The United States "should stop going further down the wrong path to avoid further harming China-U.S. relations, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing.

Zhao said Beijing would not allow foreign interference in Tibetan affairs and said Beijing implements some "protective measures" on visitors due to Tibet's geography and climate.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Australia said that Canberra's warning that Australians risked arbitrary detention in China was "completely ridiculous and disinformation".

"Foreigners in China, including the Australians, as long as they abide by the Chinese laws, have no need to worry at all," the embassy said in a statement published on its website.

Australia updated its travel advice after Beijing imposed the national security law in Hong Kong. (Reuters)