Several U.S. media outlets have reported that the Chinese government has not renewed press cards for several U.S. journalists in China, with one affected U.S. journalist saying that he was told by Chinese Foreign Ministry officials that this was “reciprocal” in response to the Trump administration’s treatment of Chinese journalists in the United States. Meanwhile, the tug-of-war between the U.S. and China over press visas continues.
The New York Times reported on Monday (Sept. 7) that six people with knowledge of the matter said that the Chinese government has suspended the renewal of press cards for foreign journalists working for U.S. media outlets in China, and hinted that China will continue to take action if the Trump administration takes further action against Chinese media employees in the United States.
The New York Times said that several journalists from U.S. media outlets in China went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week to renew their press cards, but were told that they could not do so. Such press cards are usually valid for one year. Foreign journalists will only be able to obtain a new Chinese residence permit to legally live and work in China if they receive a renewed press card.
U.S. media outlets immediately affected include CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and Getty Images.) In total, at least five journalists from four organizations were affected, according to several sources.
Chinese journalists in the United States are still waiting for approval of their work visa extensions. But Jeremy Page, a British reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and David Culver, an American reporter for CNN, have received letters allowing them to continue working in China on expired press cards.
CNN reported that Culver was told that his visa issue was not related to his reporting, but rather a response to the Trump administration’s “reciprocal approach” to Chinese journalists.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese authorities have hinted that visa renewals are contingent on the presence of Chinese journalists in the United States.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying tweeted Monday that “if Chinese journalists are treated fairly in the U.S., we will be happy to continue our good cooperation with U.S. journalists.
The U.S. State Department revealed Sunday that U.S. diplomats in Beijing were recently told that China would not renew press credentials for U.S. journalists in China. In response, State Department spokeswoman Ortegaz () said the United States is certainly troubled by these proposed actions, which would worsen the reporting environment in China. She said that Beijing’s actions prove once again that the Chinese Communist Party is afraid of independent and investigative media coverage that will only serve to broaden and deepen the world’s understanding of China.
U.S.-China relations are at a low point, with the two countries at odds over trade, human rights, science and technology, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and China’s treatment of the Muslim minority in Xinjiang, among many other issues. Beijing and Washington are also locked in a tug-of-war over visas for journalists.
In February, the U.S. listed five Chinese official media outlets, including Xinhua, CGTN and People’s Daily, as part of China’s diplomatic corps, then capped the number of personnel in the U.S. from a total of 160 to 100 in March and gave them until mid-March to comply with the new limit.
Some analysts believe the move was in retaliation for China’s expulsion of three Wall Street Journal journalists in February. Beijing accused the Journal of offending the Chinese government and its people with an article published in February, and has refused to issue a formal public apology.
The Chinese government then announced countermeasures on March 17, demanding that five media outlets, including the Voice of America, declare their personnel and assets, and expelling American journalists from three major U.S. newspapers.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the U.S. move negatively affected and harmed relations between the two countries and that the U.S. has escalated “discrimination and political repression” against Chinese media outlets and personnel in the U.S. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China “reserves the right to react and take measures.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that there is no comparison between U.S. restrictions on Chinese propaganda agencies and China’s crackdown on the U.S. free press, and that any restrictions on U.S. journalists imposed by Beijing will be met with a “reciprocal” response from Washington. We urge the Chinese government to immediately uphold its international obligation to respect freedom of expression, including that of journalists,” Pompeo said.
The U.S. government has granted Chinese journalists a 90-day grace period to remain in the United States, which will end in early November.
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