China announces visa curbs on US officials over "Hong Kong-related issues"

The government of China has announced visa restrictions for certain categories of US citizens in response to Washington’s threats to sanction officials responsible for implementing the national security law, as announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

Ning revealed the move on December 10 when responding to a reporter’s question on Beijing’s countermeasures to planned sanctions by the US State Department, Caliber.Az reports via Chinese media.

According to her, the restrictions will be applied to “US personnel who have behaved poorly on Hong Kong-related issues,” 

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.

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.”

Ning stressed that Beijing was determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

To recall, in November, Washington said it would impose fresh sanctions on Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the special administrative region's national security law following the jailing of 45 people for subversion.

On November 19, Hong Kong's High Court jailed 45 pro-democracy activists for up to 10 years following a national security trial that has damaged the city's once feisty democracy movement and drawn criticism from the U.S. and other countries.

A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law which carried sentences of up to life in prison.

The charges related to the organising of an unofficial "primary election" in 2020 to select candidates for a legislative election. Prosecutors accused the activists of plotting to paralyse the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts had they been elected.

Some Western governments have criticised the trial, with the U.S. describing it as "politically motivated", and saying the democrats should be released as they had been legally and peacefully participating in political activities.

The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security laws were necessary to restore order after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, and the democrats have been treated in accordance with local laws.

By Khagan Isayev