China has confirmed visa applications from US officials planning to visit during the Beijing Winter Olympics, which start February 4.
The US government had recently submitted three-month visa applications for 18 people to provide “security support operations” at the Games, just weeks after President Joe Biden indicated he was considering a boycott.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday confirmed the visa applications and said the paperwork would be handled in line with relevant rules and the “principle of reciprocity”.
The Chinese side has received the visa applications from relevant US personnel to attend the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, confirmed on Monday.
Earlier, the US side, driven by political manipulation, directed and staged a farce of not sending a diplomatic or official delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics even though no invitation had been extended, Zhao said at a routine press conference on Monday.
"Now with regard to the US request to send a team of government officials to China and their visa applications, the Chinese side will handle them in accordance with international customary practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity," Zhao noted.
