The U.S. Department of State Office of the Press Secretary released a statement today (December 21, 2020) from Secretary Pompeo announcing further visa restrictions for officials from the People’s Republic of China involved in human rights abuses.
The statement reads as follows.
Secretary Pompeo on Officials from the People’s Republic of China Involved in Human Rights Abuses
Statement on the imposition of further visa restrictions
China’s authoritarian rulers have imposed severe restrictions on the Chinese people’s freedom of speech, religion or belief, freedom of association, and the right to peaceful assembly. The United States has made clear that such human rights abusers are not welcome in our country.
Today, I am announcing additional restrictions on visas for Chinese officials under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These officials are considered responsible for or complicit in policies or actions that suppress people of religion and belief, members of minorities, dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, labor organizers, civil society organizers, and peaceful protesters. Family members of these individuals may also be affected by these additional restrictions.
This move demonstrates the U.S. government’s determination to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for the growing repression of the Chinese people. This year, the United States has imposed visa restrictions and economic sanctions on CCP officials involved in brutal human rights abuses in Xinjiang, restricted access to Tibetan areas, and undermining Hong Kong’s promised autonomy. Today’s action imposes additional restrictions on all CCP officials who engage in such repressive activities, regardless of where they are located.
The United States stands with the many people who have been persecuted through their peaceful efforts to exercise their rights, from lawyers such as Xu Zhiyong, house church pastors such as Wang Yi, civil society activists such as Huang Qi, Uighur scholars such as Ilham Tohti, democracy advocates such as Li Zhiying, and Tibetan linguists and businessmen such as Tashi Wangchuk. We call for their immediate release and urge the Chinese Communist authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms to which the Chinese people are entitled under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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