China urges US to stop political oppression targeting Chinese media

BEIJING -- China urges the United States to stop political oppression and wanton restrictions targeting Chinese media, immediately change course and correct its mistake, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to respond the US decision to designate four more Chinese media's US operations as "foreign missions."

"China has solemnly stated its position and repeatedly lodged stern representations with the US side," Zhao said.

The United States has long been applying discriminatory restrictive measures with regard to visa and other matters on Chinese journalists, said Zhao, adding that many could not get back to their posts in the United States because their visa applications were denied without cause after a vacation in China.

Besides, Chinese journalists are required to provide a large amount of additional materials when applying for a visa. Since 2018, more than 20 Chinese journalists' visa applications have been denied without cause, Zhao added.

Last month, the United States limited visas for Chinese journalists to a maximum 90-day stay, which means they will have to apply for an extension every 90 days and will be forced to leave if not granted an extension, he said. "This is indeed harsh treatment compared with the one-year multiple-entry visas China grants resident US journalists."

It is clear that the United States is deliberately making things hard for Chinese journalists and seriously disrupting Chinese media's reporting in the United States, Zhao said.

The US decision to label four more Chinese news agencies as foreign missions further escalated its political oppression targeting Chinese media, Zhao said. "This fully exposes the stark double standards and bullying approach behind the US banner of press freedom."

In response to the wanton oppression by the US side, China already announced countermeasures in March.

"If the US side is bent on going down the wrong path, China will have to make legitimate necessary reactions," Zhao said.