Following US moves against Chinese diplomats last week, China on Friday has announced restrictions on staff at the U.S. Embassy and consulates in mainland China and Hong Kong.
According to Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry did not elaborate on the measures but described them as reciprocal and a direct response to what Americans implemented.
Pompeo also said the department is taking further steps to label embassy and consular social media accounts as Chinese government accounts. Twitter last month began labeling foreign government social media accounts, including Chinese diplomatic accounts in the U.S.
The secretary claimed the actions were in response to restrictions on American diplomats who he said are subject in China to “a system of opaque approval processes” that limit their ability to freely interact with Chinese society, on university campuses, with the press and on social media.
Previously, the agency required Chinese diplomats to notify them of any meetings with local government officials or events on university campuses, though prior approval was not required.
“We’re simply demanding reciprocity,” he said. “Access for our diplomats in China should be reflective of the access that Chinese diplomats in the United States have and today’s steps will move us substantially in that direction.”
In July, the U.S. ordered the closing of the Chinese consulate in Houston and the expulsion of its diplomats. Beijing retaliated by closing the U.S. consulate in Chengdu.
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