The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said it will make legitimate responses to the Trump administration's latest restrictions on Chinese diplomats citing security reasons.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying denounced the decision as "irrational" and "delusional."
The U.S. side has imposed fresh restrictions and barrier on Chinese diplomats in the U.S. and such behavior seriously violated international law and rules and it seriously interrupted normal bilateral interactions and exchange, Hua said at a daily briefing on Thursday.
We strongly oppose it, and urge the U.S. to correct its mistake and revoke this decision, she added.
Chinese diplomats working in the United States will now be required to get approval before visiting local universities or hosting cultural events with groups over 50 outside mission grounds, according to U.S. Secretary of States Mike Pompeo.
As part of a Trump administration campaign against alleged Chinese influence operations and espionage, the U.S. State Department said it would also take action to help ensure all Chinese embassy and consular social media accounts were "properly identified."
Wednesday's move goes further than the one last October and another this June requiring Chinese diplomats to give notice of meetings with state and local officials and at educational and research institutions. Weeks ago, U.S. also ordered the closure of the long-normal operated Chinese consulate in Houston without prior notice.
Hua said China has always supported and provided necessary facilitation for foreign diplomatic and consular personnel, including those from the U.S., to perform their official duties in China.
She said a stable and sound China-U.S. relations will benefit to both countries and the world, and both countries should always maintain open channels of communication.
On Thursday, the Chinese embassy in the U.S. called the move "yet another unjustified restriction and barrier on Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel" that "runs counter to the self-proclaimed values of openness and freedom of the U.S. side."
"We urge the U.S. side to correct its mistake, revoke this decision and provide support and facilitation for Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel in the U.S. to perform their duties as well," the statement said.