China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it has raised protests over US law enforcement targeting employees of Chinese shipping companies and airliners about their Party membership.

File Photo: Agencies.

“Indeed, for a period of time, US law enforcement officers have repeatedly raided the staff of Chinese shipping companies, and have queried and interrogated the crew members of Chinese flights to the United States to identify if they are members of Communist Party of China (CPC). China has lodged stern representations with the US side,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, confirming media reports on the harassment.

“The relevant US action is a serious political provocation to China, incurring ideological confrontations, and severely undermining normal people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. It is another manifestation of reviving McCarthyism and US anti-China forces to suppress China, which goes against the trend of the times and people's hope for friendly ties between the two sides,” said Hua.

“We urge the US side to immediately stop relevant wrongdoings, stop provoking ideological confrontations, and stop unreasonably suppressing China. If the US insists on escalating its provocative actions, China will definitely take countermeasures,” Hua added.

(Compiled by Yang Jiaqi)