US imposes visa restrictions on China in response to the ‘forced integration’ of Tibetan children

In response to China’s “forced assimilation” of children in Tibet, where UN experts estimate that 1 million children have been taken from their families, the United States said on Tuesday that it would impose visa penalties on Chinese officials.

The United States announced on Tuesday that it would penalize Chinese officials with visa restrictions in reaction to China’s “forced assimilation” of children in Tibet, where UN experts estimate that one million children have been abducted from their families. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

US would block visas for Chinese officials who support the idea of state boarding schools

As the most recent in a series of US moves against Beijing despite the beginning of high-level negotiations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the US would block visas for Chinese officials who support the idea of state boarding schools, reports from SCMP.

In a statement, Blinken claimed that the goal of these forceful measures is to eradicate Tibetans of younger generations’ unique linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage.

He urged PRC officials to stop forcing Tibetan children into government-run boarding schools and to stop harsh assimilation practices in Tibet and across the PRC, saying thus in reference to the country.

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New restrictions would apply to current and former officials active in Tibet’s educational policy

Since 2021, the US has accused China of carrying out genocide in Xinjiang through what US government officials, human rights organizations, and eyewitnesses claim to be a large network of labor camps. China refutes the accusation.

In an article posted in Bangkok Post, the new restrictions would apply to current and former officials active in Tibet’s educational policy, a State Department representative said, invoking US confidentiality protections on visa records, but she withheld more information.

Two senior Chinese officials, Wu Yingjie and Zhang Hongbo, were separately sanctioned by the US in December in response to what Washington claimed were pervasive human rights violations in Tibet.

China described the claims as “smears” that “seriously undermine China-US relations” and were endorsed by the US.

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