Washington, D.C. — Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, has stated in a press release that the US government imposes additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials as the Chinese government prevents US diplomats, journalists and other international observers from entering Tibet.
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State issued the press release on March 31, 2025, and he said, "Today, I am taking steps to impose additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials determined to be substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan Areas, pursuant to the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declares, "For far too long, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has refused to afford U.S. diplomats, journalists, and other international observers access to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas of China, while China’s diplomats and journalists enjoy broad access in the United States. U.S. diplomats are also unable to provide services to U.S. citizens traveling in Tibet. This lack of reciprocity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I urge the CCP to immediately address the lack of reciprocity and allow diplomats, among others, unrestricted access to the TAR and other Tibetan areas of China."
Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act was signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump on December 19, 2018. The law requires the Department of State to report to the Congress annually regarding the level of access Chinese authorities granted U.S. diplomats, journalists, and tourists to Tibetan areas in China.
The act calls for the U.S. government to restrict the Chinese communist officials from visiting the U.S., if found to have impeded travel of U.S. citizens in Tibet. The State Department will also be required to annually report to Congress the nature of access granted to U.S. diplomats, officials, journalists, and tourists to Tibet.
