The Trump administration said it would now require Chinese diplomats to seek permission before visiting US universities, meeting local government officials or hosting large cultural events in America.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who made the announcement on Wednesday, said the new requirements were “a direct response to the excessive restraints already placed on our diplomats” by China and aimed to provide further transparency on the Chinese government’s practices.
The decision is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves highlighting rising tensions between the US and China, including over trade, Hong Kong and espionage, as President Donald Trump takes a hard line against Beijing in the run-up to the US presidential election in November.