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US delegation snubs Apec meeting in Macau due to China visa requirements row
🇨🇳 China /Economy & Trade

US delegation snubs Apec meeting in Macau due to China visa requirements row

From South China Morning Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The United States did not send high-level officials to an Apec tourism meeting in Macau.
  • This decision stems from China's refusal to lift visa restrictions on American diplomats providing consular services.
  • The US stated China rejected proposals to resolve the issue, choosing to maintain its "discriminatory practice."

The United States has opted not to send high-level representatives to an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) tourism ministerial meeting held in Macau. The decision was announced by the US State Department, citing China's continued imposition of visa restrictions on American diplomats seeking to offer emergency consular assistance.

arbitrary and targeted

— US State DepartmentDescribing the visa requirements imposed by China on US government officials.

According to the statement, Washington had repeatedly urged Beijing to remove what it described as "arbitrary and targeted" visa requirements for US government officials traveling to Macau. These requirements hinder the diplomats' ability to provide necessary consular services to American citizens in the region.

The US indicated that when China decided to host the tourism-focused Apec meeting in Macau, Washington presented further concerns and proposed a "positive way forward." However, the statement asserted that China "rejected" this proposal and "chose to maintain its discriminatory practice."

rejected

— US State DepartmentStating China's response to US proposals to resolve the visa issue.

The US consulate in Macau is handled by the consulate general in Hong Kong, as there is no US consular post within Macau itself. The statement did not specify if any lower-level US officials would attend the meeting, and the Chinese embassy in Washington had not immediately responded to a request for comment.

chose to maintain its discriminatory practice

— US State DepartmentExplaining China's decision regarding the visa requirements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by South China Morning Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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