China Urges US to Guarantee Rights of China-based Journalists in the US

Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, on Wednesday, urged the United as States to guarantee the rights and legitimate interests of Chinese journalists based in the ‘Uncle Sam’ nation. Mao also requested that the US take concrete steps to implement the joint position reached with China regarding this issue.

She made the statement during a routine press briefing following claims by a US State Department spokesperson that China does not provide equal rights to US journalists, as expected by US authorities for journalists affiliated with Chinese media outlets. “The US side frequently speaks about reciprocal treatment, and that is precisely what concerns China. It is the US side that initiated this media issue,” Mao stated.

Since both parties reached a three-point mutual understanding, Mao conveyed that China has fully followed through, including providing visa facilities for US journalists to conduct coverage from China. However, conversely, according to Mao, the fundamental rights of Chinese journalists serving in the US have been strictly limited.

She explained that almost no Chinese journalists are given the opportunity to conduct direct coverage at the White House. Mao further noted that visas and residence permits for Chinese journalists are often suspended without justifiable reasons, while many have been forced to return to China. Applications from Chinese journalists for short-term reporting assignments in the US are very rarely approved. She criticised the US for frequently championing freedom of speech, while Chinese media in the US are instead politically labelled as “foreign agents” and on “foreign missions.”