On December 4, the US State Department announced the cancellation of five educational and cultural exchange programs with China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The US State Department said the aforementioned programs were created in the framework of the Cultural Exchange and Education Act (MECEA), with the aim of promoting academic and cultural exchanges with countries around the world. .
"While MECEA-sponsored activities were mutually beneficial, the five programs were canceled because they were funded and run entirely by the Chinese government, as a propaganda tool for the public. strong soft, "the State Department's statement accused.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment on the State Department's decision.
Previously, the US State Department on December 4 also announced new restrictions on entry visas for Chinese officials.
The target is the leadership group involved in campaigns to attack overseas people who have regularly criticized Beijing, AFP reported. This group of officials will not be granted a visa to enter the United States.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the new restrictions target people who threaten or commit "using force, stealing and disclosing personal information; spying, sabotaging or maliciously interfering with matters." internal political topics; academic freedom, privacy or business secrets ".