The United States issued additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials and their families over human rights abuses on Monday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also called for the immediate release of persecuted individuals, including Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai.

In a statement, Pompeo announced additional restrictions under the Immigration and Nationality Act on the issuance of visas for “Chinese officials who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, policies or actions aimed at repressing religious and spiritual practitioners, members of ethnic minority groups, dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, labor organizers, civil society organizers, and peaceful protestors.”

The additional restrictions may also apply to their family members.

It marks the Trump administration’s latest move in a tit-for-tat battle with China that has escalated throughout the year, which has seen increasing visa restrictions and financial sanctions slapped on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for repression in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

The statement noted that China severely limits its citizens’ freedoms of expression and religion, as well as the right to peaceful assembly. “The United States has been clear that perpetrators of human rights abuses like these are not welcome in our country,” said Pompeo.

“This action demonstrates the U.S. government’s resolve to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its increasing repression against the Chinese people,” he added.

Pompeo stressed that America stands with individuals persecuted for their peaceful efforts to exercise their rights, and named dissidents including Uighur academic Iiham Tohti, Chinese civil rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong and Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai.

“We call for their immediate release and urge CCP authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms to which the people of China are entitled under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he urged.

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