China has expelled three journalists from the Wall Street Journal because of a controversial corona virus opinion. The measure is unusually drastic.
- The Chinese government expelled three journalists from the Wall Street Journal .
- The reason is an opinion on the corona virus , which Beijing says is “racist” .
- The measure is unusually drastic and has been sharply criticized by US Secretary of State Pompeo.
Beijing / New York - For the first time in China's recent history, the People's Republic had several correspondents referred to an international news organization in the country . To protest an offensive comment in the Wall Street Journal on the outbreak of lung disease, three newspaper correspondents have to leave the country within five days . Accreditation was withdrawn with immediate effect, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the Beijing press on Wednesday.
Coronavirus / Covid19: Comment exacerbates tensions between China and the United States
The journalists are US Citizen Vice President Josh Chin and reporter Chao Deng , as well as Australian reporter Philip Wen . The unusual designation exacerbates tensions between China and the United States. Washington had acted against five Chinese state media the day before by regulating them more closely as direct organs of the communist leadership in Beijing.
The editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Matt Murray , spoke of a "tough and unprecedented action" . Murray said they were behind the correspondents and would press for the expulsion to be reversed. The Wall Street Journal will continue to report "without fear" about China, he emphasized. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also condemned the expulsion of the Wall Street Journal correspondents on Wednesday. He made this clear, among other things, through a Twitter post. "Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions," he wrote, criticizing the Chinese government's actions.
The United States condemns the move by China to expel three @WSJ journalists. Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions. China should not restrict #freespeech. https://t.co/szm0ujq2Ua
- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 19, 2020Coronavirus / Covid19: "The true sick man of Asia" - a racist heading?
The trigger of the Chinese anger was an opinion contribution by columnist Walter Russell Mead in the "Wall Street Journal" on February 4 with the title: "China is the true sick man of Asia." and at the beginning of the 20th century, when the country was exploited by the colonial powers - a time that is now described in China as the "century of humiliation".
The Foreign Office spokesman described the title that the newspaper had chosen as "racist" . The contribution would disparage the government in Beijing and the country's efforts to fight lung disease. This triggered outrage among the people . The Chinese government protested to the Wall Street Journal, demanding a public and formal apology and an investigation into the responsibilities. The newspaper did nothing .
Coronavirus / Covid19: Chinese government justifies expelling journalists
Therefore, the government decided to withdraw the accreditation of three correspondents, the spokesman justified the drastic measure. "The Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racist statements and malicious slander against China, " the spokesman said.
While the handling of coronavirus reporting in China is extremely unpleasant for the Wall Street Journal, there is finally good news for the passengers of the US cruise ship “Westerdam” . See the video for details.
In the meantime, the temporary closure of a primary school in Rosenheim gives rise to worrying speculations. Several illnesses occurred at the school. And immediately the rumor mill is bubbling: Is the corona virus spreading there?
