<![CDATA[Chinese diplomats must notify Washington of meetings with state or local officials, US announces in effort to change Beijing's own diplomatic restrictions]>
The US government is now requiring Chinese diplomats to inform the State Department in advance of any official visits they conduct in the country, in an effort to get Beijing to relax restrictions on American envoys in China.
The State Department has informed Chinese diplomatic missions in the US over the past week that they must notify " but do not need to seek permission from " the agency when organising visits with government officials on the state or local levels, a senior official at the department said on Wednesday.
The requirement also applies to planned meetings with US educational or research institutions.
US diplomats in China are required to obtain permission if they want to meet government officials, academics or other stakeholders in the country, the State Department official said, adding that denials are "a very common occurrence for our staff all over China".
"We've been complaining to the Chinese government for years now," the official said, denying that the new requirement was related to the US government's other policies on China regarding trade or human rights. "The Chinese response is that 'We give you access when appropriate.'"
"This thing has been sort of in the works for some time, it's not directly linked to any other part of the relationship," he added. "Across a broad range of the US-China relationship, there are many aspects where this administration is vigorously seeking to level the playing field."
China creates obstacles not only for diplomats, but for many groups of Americans trying to work in the country, said Andrew Mertha, director of the China studies programme at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
"This has been going on for a long time for scholars, journalists and businesspeople operating in China, but that is because China is an authoritarian regime," Mertha said. "What's our excuse?"
"The irony is that many of these Chinese officials often come here to get around these restrictions in China so that we can meet with our people," he added. "And since China isn't likely to lift these restrictions any time soon, we're cutting off our nose to spite our face."
The State Department's announcement came just days after senior Chinese economic officials left Washington, having agreed in principle to a partial trade deal that US negotiators say could be finalised and signed in the coming few weeks.
The bilateral relationship " described by US President Donald Trump on Friday as a "love-fest" " faced renewed tensions this week after Tuesday's passage of legislation in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by the US House of Representatives.
After the bill's approval, the Chinese government accused some in Washington of pursuing a "political plot" to contain China's development, and vowed retaliation should the legislation become law.
Tuesday's announcement also came on the heels of sanctions previewed last week by the State and Commerce departments to punish Chinese government entities, officials and private firms deemed implicated in human rights abuses in the country's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
The State Department official declined to say what consequences Chinese diplomats would face if they fail to submit the required notifications.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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