Washington D.C., April 1, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions on Chinese officials Monday, citing China’s continued obstruction of foreign access to the Tibet Autonomous Region. The move is in line with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, which mandates consequences for Chinese officials involved in blocking entry to Tibet for American diplomats, journalists, and tourists.
“The Chinese Communist Party has denied U.S. diplomats, journalists, and others access to Tibet, while China’s diplomats and journalists enjoy broad access to the United States,” Rubio stated. He emphasized that such asymmetry is unacceptable, especially given the lack of access for U.S. consular services to American citizens traveling in the region.
The visa restrictions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to increase pressure on China over its human rights record in Tibet. The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act requires the U.S. State Department to deny entry to Chinese officials responsible for limiting foreign access to the region. It also highlights ongoing concerns about cultural suppression, religious persecution, and the treatment of the Tibetan people.
This measure is the latest in a series of U.S. legislative efforts addressing Tibet. The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 established the role of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The Tibet Policy and Support Act of 2020 opposed China’s interference in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders and strengthened environmental protections. More recently, the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act of 2024 rejected China’s historical claims over Tibet and called for renewed negotiations between Chinese authorities and Tibetan representatives.
In December 2024, the U.S. Congress extended the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act for another five years through its inclusion in the National Defence Authorisation Act. The extension ensures that the State Department continues to monitor China’s policies in Tibet, even after the closure of the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu. That responsibility now falls to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
The exact number of Chinese officials affected by the new visa restrictions was not disclosed. However, officials with a role in obstructing international access to Tibet are the primary targets.
Secretary Rubio, a longstanding advocate for human rights in Tibet and East Turkestan, co-sponsored the original Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act in 2017. His consistent criticism of China’s human rights record has previously led to political sanctions against him by the Chinese government in 2020 and 2021.
The U.S. action signals continued bipartisan commitment to highlighting China’s restrictive policies in Tibet and ensuring accountability through targeted measures.
