The US government may make it more difficult for China’s ruling elite and their families to receive American visas following a series of diplomatic snubs by the Chinese government, according to US officials.

　　據美國官員透露，在一再受到中國政府的外交冷落后，美國政府可能會加大中國統(tǒng)治精英階層及其家人獲得美國簽證的難度。

　　Beijing cancelled several bilateral academic and cultural programmes hosted by the US after Jon Huntsman, the ambassador, was photographed in February in the capital near where anonymous internet users had called for a demonstration to support a “jasmine revolution” in China.

　　今年2月，美國駐華大使洪博培(Jon Huntsman)在北京出現在網上匿名人士呼吁舉行“茉莉花革命”示威活動的地點附近，并被拍下照片。此后，北京方面取消了數個原定由美方主持的雙邊學術和文化交流活動。

　　While the calls for an uprising along the lines of the Arab spring largely went unheeded, Beijing launched what human rights groups have called the most severe crackdown on dissidents in more than a decade.

　　盡管發(fā)起類似“阿拉伯之春”大規(guī)?？棺h活動的網上呼吁在中國基本無人響應，但北京方面還是加大了對異見人士的打壓力度，一些人權團體稱這是十余年來打壓力度最重的一次。

　　Several people familiar with the matter said the ruling Communist party had also ordered provincial bosses to cancel meetings with Mr Huntsman over the past two months.

　　幾位知情人士表示，執(zhí)政的共產黨在過去兩個月里還下令各省領導取消與洪博培的會晤。

　　The snubs have prompted the US to consider counter measures, including a review of the system for granting expedited visas to senior Chinese officials and their families.

　　這些舉措已促使美方考慮反擊之舉，包括重新評估向中國高級官員及家人加快發(fā)放簽證的制度。

　　"Given the current climate of cancelled meetings and cancelled US-funded programmes in China, we are reviewing our procedures for approving visas for Chinese officials and their families," said one US official.

　　“中方正在取消會議、取消美國在華資助項目，鑒于這種氣氛，我們正在重審我方向中國官員及其家人核發(fā)簽證的程序，”一名美國官員說。

　　The Chinese crackdown has affected negotiations to set the agenda for the two countries’ twice yearly strategic dialogue in early May in Washington.

　　中方對異見人士的打壓，已經影響到為5月上旬將在華盛頓舉行的美中戰(zhàn)略對話制定議程的磋商。這項對話每年舉行兩次。

　　Until now, Washington has informally allowed the Chinese foreign ministry to nominate people for expedited visas through a “courtesy channel”. Those nominated include diplomats, senior officials, executives of state enterprises, journalists from state media and children of party leaders.

　　目前一種不成文的做法是，美方允許中國外交部通過“禮遇通道”提名一些中國人士，這些人能夠從美國使領館快速獲得簽證。得到提名的人士包括外交官、高級官員、國有企業(yè)高管、官方媒體記者，以及黨的領導人的子女。

　　Many of China’s senior leaders send their children to study at Ivy League universities, including the daughter of vice-president Xi Jinping, expected to be confirmed as head of the Communist party and president of China next year.

　　中國許多高層領導人把子女送到美國“常青藤”大學留學，包括國家副主席習近平的女兒。習近平預期將于明年被確認出任中共總書記和中國國家主席。

　　She is enrolled under a pseudonym at Harvard University, according to faculty and US officials. Bo Guagua, son of Politburo member Bo Xilai, is at Harvard, as is Chen Xiaodan, whose father, Chen Yuan, is chairman of the China Development Bank.

　　據校方和美國官員表示，習近平的女兒目前使用另一個名字在哈佛大學(Harvard University)就讀。中共政治局委員薄熙來的兒子薄瓜瓜、國家開發(fā)銀行(CDB)董事長陳元的女兒陳曉丹也都在哈佛就讀。

　　In his final speech as ambassador this month, Mr Huntsman made pointed comments about Beijing’s reaction to perceived US slights, saying “cancelling meetings as a sign of displeasure will not encourage greater respect for each other’s views”.

　　洪博培本月在作為美國駐華大使的最后一次演說中，針對北京對其眼中的美方無禮行為作出的反應，發(fā)表了意有所指的言論。他說：“把取消會面作為不高興的信號，不利于我們的彼此尊重。”

　　"We cannot move forward if, when differences emerge, only one of us is fully committed and fully engaged," he said.

　　“當出現差異的時候，如果我們當中只有一方全力參與，那我們就無法前行。”

　　The US state department said: “US embassies and consulates process visas following strict criteria and in accordance with US law. The US continues to work in China, as in any host country, to ensure that the visa process functions smoothly.”

　　美國國務院表示：“美國使領館依照嚴格標準和美國法律發(fā)放簽證。美國將會繼續(xù)在中國（就像在任何東道國一樣）努力確保簽證程序平穩(wěn)運行。”