A political conflict could significantly restrict free and critical reporting from China for the US media. After measures from Washington, Beijing has now got back to the return carriage.
Beijing / Washington (dpa) - After restrictions on the work of Chinese state media in the United States, Beijing has ordered the expulsion of several journalists from leading American newspapers. The "New York Times", the "Wall Street Journal" and the "Washington Post" are affected.
Employees of these media, whose accreditation expired before the end of the year, would have to return their press cards within ten days, the Foreign Ministry said in Beijing on Tuesday. At first it was unclear how many journalists were affected.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized China's actions. "I hope you will reconsider," he said in Washington. Compared to the measures of the United States, he complained. Freedom of the press is in no way restricted in the USA. China, on the other hand, denies the world access to what is really going on in the country. Transparency would be more important than ever for people in China in times like these, he warned.
The newspapers concerned strongly condemned the forthcoming expulsion. The measure was "particularly irresponsible at a time when the world needs the free and open flow of credible information about the coronavirus pandemic," said New York Times editor Dean Baquet.
The Wall Street Journal spoke of an "attack on press freedom" that is happening at the time of a global crisis. Editor-in-chief Matt Murray said: "Trustworthy news from and about China has never been more important." The head of the Washington Post, Marty Barron, said China's actions in the current context will "only worsen the situation."
The United States had recently introduced new restrictions on Chinese state media offshoots. The US State Department set a cap of 100 accredited employees for five Chinese press organs. According to US media reports, the procedure could result in up to 60 licensed Chinese having to leave the country. In addition, the US government is considering tightening visas for Chinese journalists in the future.
In February, China had expelled three newspaper correspondents in protest at an offensive commentary in the Wall Street Journal on the outbreak of the novel corona virus. The accreditation was withdrawn with immediate effect. It was the first time in the recent history of the People's Republic that several correspondents from an international news organization were expelled from the country.
