Expulsion Of US Journalists From China Amid COVID-19

Photo illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Diplomatic relations between the two major countries in the world, the United States (US) and China, have reached their lowest point in more than 30 years. Many policies from the two countries have ended with a war of words, blaming each other in the COVID-19 pandemic, to the most recent; evict US and Chinese journalists in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Launching CNN, Thursday, March 19, China announced that it would ban coverage of the three major US media, namely the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Apart from being prohibited from reporting in mainland China, journalists from the three media will also not be allowed to cover in semi-autonomous Chinese cities such as Macau and Hong Kong.

This decision will be made as soon as possible. Chinese authorities have also asked US citizens working for the New York Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal to return their reporting permits within ten days.

"In recent years, the US government has placed unreasonable restrictions on Chinese media agents and personnel in the US, deliberately complicating their reporting tasks, and exposing them to increasing discrimination and politically motivated oppression," the State Ministry said. China in a statement.

Responding to China's move, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that China was doing something that was incompatible with the rules in the US. China's decision is also seen as limiting freedom and seizing the world's ability to do coverage.

"I regret China's decision because it has seized the world's ability to carry out a free press operation which, frankly, is very good for the Chinese people in this very challenging global era, where there is more information, more transparency and will save lives," he said. Pompeo.

China will also impose restrictions on other international news agencies described as "foreign missions." China has also asked Voice of America in China, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Time to provide written reports on all rosters of their staff. , finance, operations, and property ownership.

China prohibited US citizens from reporting on China after the US announced that five Chinese state news agencies were conducting "foreign missions." US authorities also limit the number of Chinese journalists allowed to work in the US.

In addition, there are administrative rules that require Chinese news agencies in the US to require approval from the US government to buy or lease offices. Chinese news agencies in the US should also notify US authorities of other changes such as moving offices and the names of staff at the office.