China revokes press credentials of US reporters at three major outlets
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 18 March 2020
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China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revoked the press credentials of U.S. journalists at three key publications. This decision amplifies existing tensions between Beijing and Washington.Summary
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- In response to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice that it will revoke the press credentials of U.S. citizens working as journalists for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post whose visas expire by the end of the year, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement. “The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns this senseless but entirely predictable retaliation by the Chinese government, which threatens to sharply curtail the reporting operations of major U.S. publications in China,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Beijing and Washington should negotiate to solve their differences and stop taking measures that cripple news reporting during a global pandemic, when the public’s need for accurate information is greater than ever.” The Chinese decision follows the U.S. State Department’s announcement on March 2 that Chinese state media outlets Xinhua, CGTN, China Radio, China Daily, and The People’s Daily would be limited to 100 visas in total for Chinese citizens working in the United States, as CPJ documented at the time. - A CPJ statement/Photo: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi/Reuters
KEY POINTS:
- China revokes U.S. journalists' press credentials.
- Affected outlets include New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
- The move is seen as retaliation against U.S. visa restrictions on Chinese state media.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the decision.
- Calls for negotiation to reduce tensions and improve reporting conditions.
