US rejects China claim of weaponizing visas

U.S. has rejected Chinese accusations of using withholding of visas as a weapon following reported inability of a top Chinese program official to obtain permission to travel to a major conference in Washington.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that U.S. rejects Chinese foreign ministry’s “unfounded and baseless characterization” of U.S. visa policies toward China following dispute over this week’s International Astronautical Congress.

“ United States recognizes importance of cooperation and has encourd very bro participation and attendance at this year’s IAC,” Ortagus said.

“We cant discuss individual visa cases since visa records are confidential under U.S. law, but we can confirm that Chinese delegation is in attendance at conference,” she said.

Ortagus said U.S. consular officers issued more than 1.3 million visas in China over last fiscal year, making U.S. missions re “some of largest visa issuing posts in world.”

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Wednesday accused U.S. of having “weaponized” issuance of visas in violation of international rms.

“For some time, U.S. has frequently rejected and delayed visa applications, revoked long-term visas of Chinese applicants and investigated and harassed Chinese scholars, students, businesspeople, and scientific and technical personnel,” Hua said.

Her comments came on heels of reports that vice chairman of China National ministration, Wu Yanhua, h planned to attend congress as he of Chinese delegation but wasn’t issued a visa following an Oct. 12 interview.

Wu is also a leing official overseeing China’s arms industry, underscoring close ties between Chinese program and country’s military.

Those links have prompted U.S. to limit exchanges with Chinese program and restrict its participation in multinational efforts, including International Station. China is inste building its own permanent station and has invited or countries to join in effort.

China last year launched more missions to orbit than any or country, and is on track to do same this year. Those missions include first-ever soft-landing of a craft on far side of moon.

visa incident came amid a simmering tre war between China and U.S. that includes accusations that China steals or coerces foreign firms to hand over sensitive techlogy.