Published 11:37 IST, September 3rd 2020

Mike Pompeo announces new restrictions on Chinese diplomats in US

Pompeo lambasted the Chinese-funded Confucius Institute cultural centers on US campuses, saying, they were operating to recruit "spies and collaborators”.

Reported by: Zaini Majeed
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on September 2 anunced new restrictions on Chinese diplomats in United States. Pompeo said that senior Chinese diplomats will w have to seek State Department approval prior to a visit on US university campuses. He extended se limitations to cultural events held outside mission grounds that involved over 50 delegates. State Department wrote a formal letter to governing boards of US universities, cautioning m about threats posed by Chinese diplomats and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in US, according to reports.

restrictions, recently imposed by US, are retaliatory actions to restrictions slapped on American delegates in China. Pompeo indicated that US will ensure that it “thoroughly” investigated Chinese embassy and “properly” identified consular social media accounts. At a live news conference, US Secretary of State said that US was demanding reciprocity. access and treatment of American diplomats in China would be reflective of access Chinese diplomats h in US.

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Furr upping allegations, Pompeo lambasted Chinese-funded Confucius Institute cultural centers on US campuses, saying, y were operating to recruit "spies and collaborators”. He warned to “shut down” all facilities by end of year, 2020. Launching a series of verbal assaults on China, Pompeo said that communist nation used se facilities operational to register foreign mission for "malign influence” and espion, on similar lines as Trump campaign h accused China a few days past.

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In response to Pompeo’s actions, China’s Washington embassy criticized US government’s move, saying, it was ar unjustified restriction. China termed se restrictions as “barrier” on Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel. It accused US of running counter to “self-proclaimed” values of openness and freedom. In a letter Pompeo wrote to US universities, accessed by local brocasters, Pompeo alleged that re were threats of illicit funding for research, intellectual property ft, intimidation of foreign students, and opaque talent recruitment efforts from China and diplomats. He asked universities to ensure clean investments and endowment fundings by “disclosing Chinese firms” and banishing those involved in human rights abuses.

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To discuss 'China' at ASEAN talks

In a separate document, US State Department said that contrary to assumptions, CI programs in US were independently run in country by institutions that me a conscious decision to opt for  Chinese langu education system set up. It informed that Secretary of State Mike Pompey would participate in an East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting, an Indo-Pacific countries virtual meeting, and ASEAN talks on September 9 where he plans to discuss China. 

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11:38 IST, September 3rd 2020