Growing US-China Conflict... Escalating Media Retaliation with Journalist Expulsions (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] The Chinese government has effectively expelled journalists from three American media outlets. As the verbal dispute between the U.S. and China continues over the origin of COVID-19, the conflict between the two countries is deepening with the addition of media retaliation.

On the 18th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement at dawn, announcing that American journalists from The New York Times (NYT), The Washington Post (WP), and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stationed in China whose press credentials expire this year must notify the Ministry within four days and return their press credentials within ten days. It was also stated that these journalists will not be allowed to work as reporters not only in mainland China but also in Hong Kong and Macau.

Foreign journalists in China must renew their press credentials annually, and visas are issued based on these credentials. Ordering American journalists to return their press credentials effectively prevents them from conducting reporting activities in China and amounts to an expulsion from China.

China also announced that the China bureaus of five media outlets?NYT, WP, WSJ, Voice of America (VOA), and Time magazine?must submit written reports on the number of employees, financial and operational status, and real estate holdings. Additionally, China warned that since the U.S. has imposed discriminatory measures against Chinese journalists regarding visas, administrative reviews, and reporting, China will take further "reciprocal measures" against American journalists.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the three measures as "necessary and reciprocal responses to the unreasonable suppression forcibly imposed by the U.S. to pressure Chinese media outlets stationed in the U.S." and stated, "China solemnly requests negotiations regarding the U.S. side's mistakes and firmly opposes them."

Xinhua News Agency, in a separate editorial explaining the background of these measures, pointed out that "In February, the U.S. Department of State designated five entities?including Xinhua News Agency, CGTN, China Radio International, China Daily, and the English edition distributor of People's Daily?as 'foreign missions' controlled by the Chinese government. It also limited the number of Chinese employees at Chinese media outlets." The editorial criticized, "What the U.S. should do immediately is to correct the discriminatory mistakes against Chinese media and guarantee their legitimate rights and interests."

The media retaliation emerged amid heightened tensions as the U.S. and China engaged in fierce verbal exchanges over the origin of COVID-19.

On the 17th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump said regarding the term "Chinese Virus," "It (the virus) came from China," adding, "Our military did not give it to anyone. China is fabricating false information." President Trump also emphasized the virus's origin in China by calling COVID-19 the "Chinese Virus" and "foreign virus" in a tweet on the 16th. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also stated at a State Department briefing, "We know that the first government to recognize the Wuhan virus was the Chinese government," and criticized, "Their disinformation campaign is designed to shift responsibility."

China is also standing firm. In an editorial on the 18th, Global Times pointed out, "The U.S. is mentioning the uncertain origin of COVID-19 and blaming its failed COVID-19 response on China." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang criticized at a briefing the previous day that President Trump’s reference to COVID-19 as the "Chinese Virus" "stigmatizes China by linking COVID-19 to China." Earlier, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau responsible for foreign affairs in China, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo engaged in a sharp exchange of accusations over responsibility for the spread of COVID-19 during a phone call.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.