The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. on Tuesday strongly called on the United States to stop harassing Chinese citizens traveling to the country under the guise of national security. The embassy emphasized the detrimental impact such actions have on public support for China-U.S. relations and obstruct the friendly interactions between the two peoples.
Addressing concerns over the frequent harassment of Chinese nationals entering or leaving the U.S., the spokesperson detailed that the Chinese Embassy and relevant Consulate General have lodged representations with multiple U.S. authorities, including the State Department, National Security Council, Department of Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection. \"The Chinese side has been lodging representations on every single incident toward the final resolution of the issue,\" the embassy stated.
The spokesperson highlighted that nearly 300 Chinese citizens, including over 70 students with valid documentation, have been deported by the U.S. since July 2021. Recent incidents include ten cases at Washington Dulles International Airport since November 2023, where Chinese students faced harassment, interrogations, visa cancellations, and deportations.
In December 2023, a Chinese visiting scholar was subjected to a 10-hour interrogation at Dulles International Airport, where U.S. border control personnel questioned him about his political affiliations and examined his electronic devices. The scholar's visa was subsequently canceled, resulting in a permanent ban from entering the United States. Similarly, in February 2024, another scholar was detained for 22 hours at San Francisco International Airport, leading to visa cancellation and a five-year ban after intensive questioning by U.S. law enforcement officers.
The embassy stressed that these escalating incidents disrupt normal cross-border travel and violate the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens. \"Putting the people first, the Chinese government firmly upholds the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and will not tolerate any illegal and unfair treatment of Chinese students,\" the spokesperson affirmed.
Highlighting the need for expanded people-to-people exchanges, the spokesperson referenced a recent joint statement by the two presidents on April 2, which called for further steps to enhance cultural and interpersonal connections between China and the U.S.
Reference(s):
China iterates call to U.S. to stop harassing Chinese citizens
cgtn.com
