Published 20:51 IST, October 23rd 2019
China says US has 'weaponised' visas to target exchanges
China says US has 'weaponised' visas to target Chinese Space program said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying ahead International Astronautical Congress.
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China on Wednesday accused the US of having "weaponized" the issuance of visas following the reported inability of a top Chinese space program official to obtain permission to travel to a key conference in Washington. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that the head of the Chinese delegation to the International Astronautical Congress wasn't able to obtain a visa following an October 12 interview, making it difficult for Chinese representatives to attend important events at the meeting. Reports said the vice-chairman of the China National Space Administration, Wu Yanhua, had planned to attend the congress.
US has weaponized VISA issuances: China
Hua said the US has "weaponized" visa issuances and "repeatedly defied international responsibilities and obligations and impeded normal international exchanges and cooperation." She said that "threatened and damaged the legitimate rights and interests of all parties in the international community. The US Embassy in Beijing said it couldn't discuss individual visa cases because of privacy issues. Hua said that "for some time, the US has frequently rejected and delayed visa applications, revoked long-term visas of Chinese applicants and investigated and harassed the Chinese scholars, students, business people, and scientific and technical personnel."
China plans to build its own space station
China last year launched more missions to orbit than any other country and is on track to do the same this year. Those missions include the first-ever soft-landing of a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. However, close ties between the Chinese space program and the country's military have limited its participation in multinational efforts, including the International Space Station. China is instead building its own permanent station and has invited other countries to join in the effort. The visa incident also comes amid a simmering trade war between China and the US in which accusations that China steals or coerces foreign firms into handing over sensitive technology have played a major role.
20:31 IST, October 23rd 2019