Beijing: China has announced new restrictions on the activities of US diplomats working in the Asian nation and Hong Kong, in what it called a justified response to similar measures imposed on Beijing's diplomats in the US last year.
In a statement posted online late on Friday, a foreign ministry's spokesperson said the rules would apply to senior diplomats and all other personnel at the American Embassy in Beijing and consulates throughout China.
However, the spokesperson said Beijing supported "normal exchanges and cooperation between all sectors of the two countries" and said the restrictions could be lifted if the US were to revoke the measures it imposed last October.
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"Once again we urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes and lift the unreasonable restrictions imposed on the Chinese Embassy and consulates and their staff. Beijing will make reciprocal responses to US actions," the spokesperson, who wasn't identified, said.
No details were given about the new restrictions. US diplomats already face limits on what parts of the country they can visit and even access to college campuses. The US rules require Chinese diplomats to report travel and meetings in what was seen as an attempt to prevent interference within the overseas Chinese community and foreign students.
Washington has also complained about a lack of reciprocity in access to media, saying Chinese diplomats are able to put their views across US outlets while America's representatives are shunned by Beijing's state media.
Most recently, the State Department protested over the refusal by the Communist Party's flagship newspaper People's Daily to publish an op-ed by Ambassador Terry Branstad. The paper responded that the piece didn't meet its editorial standards.
AP
