BEIJING – China on Thursday slammed as “groundless” a US decision to orderChinese diplomats to notify the State Department before meeting with localofficials, in the latest spat to strain bilateral relations.
Washington — which called the move “reciprocal” — announced the decisionWednesday in response to the inability of US diplomats to meet with a rangeof Chinese officials and academics, a senior State Department officialsaid, speaking anonymously.
“What the US has said about China restricting the activities of USdiplomats is simply groundless,” said foreign ministry spokesman GengShuang, adding that China “consistently supported” US diplomats in thecountry.
“We urge the US to correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decision, andprovide support and convenience for Chinese diplomats in the US… ratherthan artificially setting up barriers,” he told reporters at a pressbriefing in Beijing.
The move comes as Washington and Beijing — the world’s two largesteconomies — are locked in a bitter trade dispute.
A partial deal is now being put in writing, President Donald Trump saidWednesday, while Beijing said both sides were working towards “an earlyagreement”.
“Unfortunately in China, US diplomats do not have unfettered access to arange of folks that are important for us to do our job there,” the USofficial told reporters.
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“That includes local and provincial level officials, academic institutions,research institutes,” the official said. “We have to seek permission andsuch permission is often denied.”
Chinese diplomats will henceforth be required to tell the State Departmentin advance of any official meetings with US diplomats, local or municipalofficials, and before any visits to colleges or research institutions.
“What we’re trying to achieve here is just to get closer to a reciprocalsituation,” the official said, emphasizing that Chinese diplomats were notbeing asked to get “permission” for their visits.
The official said he hoped the measure would prompt Beijing to open up itsown country a bit more to US diplomats.
The US and China are also at odds over intellectual property rights andhuman rights questions including freedom of speech. -APP/AFP
