China threatens retaliation after US tightens visas for students, journalists

China's foreign ministry on Friday criticized newly tightened US visa regulations targeting students and journalists as 'discriminatory,' warning that Beijing reserves the right to impose reciprocal countermeasures. The rules were announced a day earlier by the US Department of Homeland Security as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

The new regulations tighten eligibility and renewal requirements for student and journalist visas, changes officials in Washington said were needed for national security reasons. Chinese students already enrolled at US universities, along with those planning to apply, expressed concern the rules could complicate their studies or force early departures.

The dispute adds a new irritant to already strained US-China relations, which have been further tested this week by President Trump's renewed claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election. Beijing has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and accusing Washington of using the issue to justify tougher measures against Chinese nationals.