China "systematically" impedes access to Tibet with restrictions that have prohibited diplomats, journalists and ordinary citizens from visiting, the United States said in a report Monday.

The State Department documented access problems to the Himalayan region in a report to Congress mandated by the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, passed with bipartisan support in December.

The law, which notes that no US region is prohibited, requires the United States by the end of this year to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing the policy.

"The Chinese government systematically impeded travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan areas outside the TAR for US diplomats and officials, journalists and tourists in 2018," said the report to Congress.

Even visits by US diplomats were "highly restricted," it said.

"Chinese government-designated minders followed US diplomats and officials at all times, prevented them from meeting or speaking with local contacts, interrogated them and restricted their movement in these areas," it said.

Tibet is the only region for which China requires diplomats and journalists to seek special access.

The State Department said that China last year rejected five of the nine US requests to visit Tibet, including one by Ambassador Terry Branstad.

Of the visits that went ahead, two were for routine consular matters, one was for the consul general in nearby Chengdu and the other was for security officials to prepare the visit by Branstad that was ultimately denied.

Quoting the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China, the State Department said that only seven international journalists sought permission to visit Tibetan areas last year, compared with dozens in past years, with reporters sensing "the apparent futility of applying."

The report said that China denied access to tourists during times seen as politically sensitive and that Americans of Tibetan ancestry said they were singled out for special screening.

Matteo Mecacci, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, which pushed for the law, welcomed the report as a sign that the United States is "serious" about reciprocal access to Tibet.

"I think it shows that reciprocity with China is a principle that is important not just for trade or economic issues, but also for access for Tibet," said Mecacci, a former Italian member of parliament.

He voiced hope that China, which has protested the law, would address its policies in light of the impending restrictions on visas for officials.

"Our goal is not to bar Chinese officials from coming here. It's to end the isolation of Tibet," he said.

China denounces US Tibet report as 'full of prejudice'
Beijing (AFP) March 26, 2019 - Beijing on Tuesday denounced a US report accusing the Chinese government of impeding access to Tibet as "full of prejudice" and warned that continued interference in the Himalayan region could damage US-China relations.

The US State Department's report "disregards the facts, is full of prejudice and the Chinese side will never accept it", said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a press briefing in Beijing.

"We urge the US side to... stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs so as not to cause damage to China-US relations and cooperation and exchanges between the two countries", he added.

The report, which was released Monday, details issues with access to Tibet, including restrictions that have prohibited diplomats, journalists and ordinary citizens from visiting the mountainous region.

According to the report, five out of nine US requests to visit Tibet were rejected last year, including one by Ambassador Terry Branstad.

Beijing -- which claims it "peacefully liberated" the Himalayan area -- also stands accused of political and religious repression in the region.

At least 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest against Beijing's presence in Tibet, most of whom have died from their injuries.

But China insists that Tibetans enjoy extensive freedoms and argues it has brought economic growth.

It has also defended restricted access to the region as a result of "special geography" and "climatic conditions", and has said China welcomes more visitors to travel and do business in Tibet.

The State Department report was part of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act passed by US lawmakers in December.

The law -- which China has strongly rebuked -- requires the United States by the end of this year to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing policies that restrict access for foreigners to Tibet.

On Tuesday, Geng called the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act "gross interference" into China's internal affairs that sends the "wrong signal" to Tibetan separatists.

Related Links
China News from SinoDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Hun Sen denies Cambodia is Chinese 'colony' as work on $2 bn road begins
Phnom Penh (AFP) March 22, 2019
Cambodia broke ground Friday on a $2 billion Chinese-funded expressway - the country's first - as strongman premier Hun Sen denied his country was in danger of becoming a colony of Beijing. Once complete in 2023 the expressway will connect the capital Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, a southern resort and seaport that has become a honeypot for Chinese gamblers and investors. The near 200-kilometre (124-mile) road is being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and is a part of China' ... read more