据美国官员透露，在一再受到中国政府的外交冷落后，美国政府可能会加大中国统治精英阶层及其家人获得美国签证的难度。
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，美国驻华大使洪博培(Jon Huntsman)在北京出现在网上匿名人士呼吁举行“茉莉花革命”示威活动的地点附近，并被拍下照片。此后，北京方面取消了数个原定由美方主持的双边学术和文化交流活动。
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.
尽管发起类似“阿拉伯之春”大规模抗议活动的网上呼吁在中国基本无人响应，但北京方面还是加大了对异见人士的打压力度，一些人权团体称这是十余年来打压力度最重的一次。
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.
几位知情人士表示，执政的共产党在过去两个月里还下令各省领导取消与洪博培的会晤。
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.
这些举措已促使美方考虑反击之举，包括重新评估向中国高级官员及家人加快发放签证的制度。
"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.
“中方正在取消会议、取消美国在华资助项目，鉴于这种气氛，我们正在重审我方向中国官员及其家人核发签证的程序，”一名美国官员说。
The Chinese crackdown has affected negotiations to set the agenda for the two countries’ twice yearly strategic dialogue in early May in Washington.
中方对异见人士的打压，已经影响到为5月上旬将在华盛顿举行的美中战略对话制定议程的磋商。这项对话每年举行两次。
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.
目前一种不成文的做法是，美方允许中国外交部通过“礼遇通道”提名一些中国人士，这些人能够从美国使领馆快速获得签证。得到提名的人士包括外交官、高级官员、国有企业高管、官方媒体记者，以及党的领导人的子女。
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.
中国许多高层领导人把子女送到美国“常青藤”大学留学，包括国家副主席习近平的女儿。习近平预期将于明年被确认出任中共总书记和中国国家主席。
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.
据校方和美国官员表示，习近平的女儿目前使用另一个名字在哈佛大学(Harvard University)就读。中共政治局委员薄熙来的儿子薄瓜瓜、国家开发银行(CDB)董事长陈元的女儿陈晓丹也都在哈佛就读。
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”.
洪博培本月在作为美国驻华大使的最后一次演说中，针对北京对其眼中的美方无礼行为作出的反应，发表了意有所指的言论。他说：“把取消会面作为不高兴的信号，不利于我们的彼此尊重。”
"We cannot move forward if, when differences emerge, only one of us is fully committed and fully engaged," he said.
“当出现差异的时候，如果我们当中只有一方全力参与，那我们就无法前行。”
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.”
美国国务院表示：“美国使领馆依照严格标准和美国法律发放签证。美国将会继续在中国（就像在任何东道国一样）努力确保签证程序平稳运行。”
