China to expel US scribes from major media outlets

Beijing: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced the expulsion of American journalists working for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post as a measure taken by Beijing “in the spirit of reciprocity.”

“China demands that journalists of US citizenship working with the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post whose press credentials are due to expire before the end of 2020... and hand back their press cards within 10 calendar days,” the ministry said in a statement released on its website on Wednesday.

In addition, Beijing will not allow the affected journalists to continue practicing the profession in China, including in its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, a measure which according to the country was taken, “in response to the US slashing the staff size of Chinese media outlets in the US, which is expulsion in all but name.”

“In response to the US designation of five Chinese media agencies as ‘foreign missions,’ China demands, in the spirit of reciprocity, that the China-based branches of Voice of America, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Time declare in written form information about their staff, finance, operation and real estate in China,” the statement added. The ministry warned that “in response to the discriminatory restrictions the US has imposed on Chinese journalists with regard to visa, administrative review, and reporting, China will take reciprocal measures against American journalists.” (IANS)

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