US announces visa restrictions on targeted Central Americans; move to ‘stir strife between China and Latin America’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington was restricting visas for some Central American nationals who it alleged to be "intentionally acting on behalf of China" and "undermining the rule of law", Reuters reported.
A Chinese expert said that such move was disgraceful with the intent to undermine China's relations with Latin American countries.
The visa restriction policy will allow Washington to restrict US visas for "Central American nationals who, while in Central American countries and intentionally acting on behalf of China, knowingly direct, authorize, fund, provide significant support to, or carry out activities that undermine the rule of law in Central America, Reuters reported, citing Rubio.
The US Department of State claimed that these actions reaffirm US President Donald Trump's commitment to protect America's economic prosperity and national security interests, according to a released statement on Thursday.
Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that Rubio's move was intended to undermine the relations between China and Central American countries.
This is also a disgraceful attempt by the US to turn Latin American countries into its own "backyard," Lü added.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rubio's statement, Reuters said.
On August 25, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the US' malicious smears against China-Latin America cooperation, stating that the US, by contrast, has tried every means to interfere in and exert control over the region for years. The hegemonic and bullying nature of its behaviors is for all to see.
Guo said that the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region is no one's backyard, adding that China-LAC cooperation does not target any third party and should not be disrupted by any third party. Regional countries have the right to independently choose development paths and cooperative partners.
The US should stop sowing discord and making trouble. Rather, it should do something tangible for the development of LAC countries, according to the spokesperson.
Since assuming office in early 2025, Rubio has continuously rolled out the so-called "visa restriction" measures, weaponizing visa-related affairs.
In May, Rubio claimed that the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese student, and revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future applications from China.
At that time, in response, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that the US' unjust revocation of Chinese students' visas under the pretext of ideology and national security has seriously undermined their legitimate rights and interests and disrupted normal people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. China firmly opposes this.
Mao said that China has lodged representations with the US side. This political and discriminatory action exposes the lies of freedom and openness that the US has consistently touted and will only further damage the US' international image and credibility, said Mao.
A Chinese expert said that such move was disgraceful with the intent to undermine China's relations with Latin American countries.
The visa restriction policy will allow Washington to restrict US visas for "Central American nationals who, while in Central American countries and intentionally acting on behalf of China, knowingly direct, authorize, fund, provide significant support to, or carry out activities that undermine the rule of law in Central America, Reuters reported, citing Rubio.
The US Department of State claimed that these actions reaffirm US President Donald Trump's commitment to protect America's economic prosperity and national security interests, according to a released statement on Thursday.
Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that Rubio's move was intended to undermine the relations between China and Central American countries.
This is also a disgraceful attempt by the US to turn Latin American countries into its own "backyard," Lü added.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rubio's statement, Reuters said.
On August 25, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the US' malicious smears against China-Latin America cooperation, stating that the US, by contrast, has tried every means to interfere in and exert control over the region for years. The hegemonic and bullying nature of its behaviors is for all to see.
Guo said that the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region is no one's backyard, adding that China-LAC cooperation does not target any third party and should not be disrupted by any third party. Regional countries have the right to independently choose development paths and cooperative partners.
The US should stop sowing discord and making trouble. Rather, it should do something tangible for the development of LAC countries, according to the spokesperson.
Since assuming office in early 2025, Rubio has continuously rolled out the so-called "visa restriction" measures, weaponizing visa-related affairs.
In May, Rubio claimed that the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese student, and revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future applications from China.
At that time, in response, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that the US' unjust revocation of Chinese students' visas under the pretext of ideology and national security has seriously undermined their legitimate rights and interests and disrupted normal people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. China firmly opposes this.
Mao said that China has lodged representations with the US side. This political and discriminatory action exposes the lies of freedom and openness that the US has consistently touted and will only further damage the US' international image and credibility, said Mao.
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