Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, April 14: China announced visa restrictions on “US personnel who have acted egregiously” on Tibet-related issues on Monday, escalating diplomatic tensions in direct response to similar measures imposed by Washington two weeks ago.
“Tibet-related affairs are purely China’s internal matters,” said foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian during the announcement. “The United States’ imposition of unwarranted visa restrictions on Chinese officials under the pretext of Tibet-related issues seriously violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations.”
The Chinese response follows the March 31 announcement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Washington would impose additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials “substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners” to Tibetan areas.
The US restrictions were implemented under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, which allows Washington to deny visas to Chinese officials who block American diplomats, journalists, and tourists from accessing Tibet. Secretary Rubio stated at the time that “China’s diplomats and journalists enjoy broad access in the United States” while Americans face significant restrictions in Tibet, calling the lack of reciprocity “unacceptable”.
China maintains that Tibet is open to foreign visitors and that no regulations specifically restrict foreigners from entering the region. “China welcomes friendly foreign individuals to visit, travel, and conduct business in Tibet,” Lin said. However, he added that Beijing opposes “individuals with ulterior motives using the pretext of visiting Tibet to carry out disruptive or damaging activities.”
In practice, non-Chinese visitors to Tibet must obtain special permits, typically only granted to tourists travelling with approved operators. These permits are rarely issued to journalists and diplomats. Even Tibetans living in Tibet are required to obtain a permit from their concerned local authorities and also a guarantor from a known contact in the destination city, promising and assuring no anti-state or anti-party activities.
Tibet was annexed by China’s People’s Liberation Army in 1950, following the Chinese Communist Party’s victory in the Chinese civil war. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, fled to India in 1959 and has remained in exile since.
