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State Dept: US will require Chinese diplomats to report contacts with American officials

17 October 2019 00:59 (UTC +04:00)

US State Department officials stated on Wednesday that moving forward Chinese diplomats will have to give advanced notice of any meetings with state, local and municipal officials, including those with research and educational institutions, APA reports citing Sputnik.

Reuters reported that the change was in an effort to "add reciprocity" to the manner in which American diplomats are required to do business in China.

Additionally, the measure will also cover all staff involved in Chinese missions within the US and Chinese officials traveling through the country on official business.

The latest development comes days after the Trump administration issued visa restrictions on Chinese officials, citing ongoing abuses of Muslim minorities in China's Xinjiang region. The move itself was promptly followed by Beijing stating it would mirror the US' stance in turn.

Both China and the US have been engaged in a monthslong tit-for-tat, mostly regarding the pair's ongoing trade disputes in which the Trump administration seeks to obtain a so-called level playing field. Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that the US and China had reached a "very substantial phase one" trade deal.