China announced Monday it will impose visa restrictions on certain U.S. officials, citing what it described as “bad behaviour” related to Tibet. The move, confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry during a routine press briefing, comes in direct response to Washington’s recent visa curbs on Chinese officials accused of limiting foreign access to the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The retaliatory action underscores deepening tensions between the U.S. and China over human rights and transparency in Tibet—a region where Beijing enforces strict controls and has long restricted entry to foreign journalists, diplomats, and researchers.

The U.S. has repeatedly condemned China’s policies in Tibet, accusing authorities of suppressing religious freedom, eroding cultural traditions, and denying meaningful autonomy to the region’s Tibetan population. Beijing, in turn, has dismissed such criticisms as interference in its internal affairs, insisting its actions in Tibet are aimed at fostering development and maintaining social stability.

While the Chinese government did not name the U.S. individuals affected or provide specific details about their alleged misconduct, it said the measures were necessary to “safeguard China’s sovereignty and security interests.”

The exchange of visa restrictions adds another layer to the broader geopolitical rivalry between the two powers, whose disputes span issues ranging from trade and technology to human rights and regional security.