Pompeo Criticizes 'WSJ Reporter Expulsion,' China Retorts "We Have the Right to Retaliate"

[Asia Economy Reporter Sung Kiho] The conflict between the United States and China appears to be escalating following the Chinese government's expulsion of three Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporters based in Beijing.

The incident was triggered by a column titled "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia" related to the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned China's actions, citing freedom of the press. In response, China retorted firmly, stating, "If there is freedom of the press, there is also the freedom to counterattack."

Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at an online regular briefing on the 20th, "(The WSJ's) report is not about the freedom of the press that Secretary Pompeo mentioned," and criticized, "The WSJ published a column insulting China and openly used a racially discriminatory headline."

Spokesperson Geng continued, "Secretary Pompeo frequently brings up freedom of the press," and questioned, "I wonder if writing articles that insult a country and a people, refusing to acknowledge mistakes, and not apologizing is what the U.S. calls freedom of the press."

He also argued, "If the WSJ has the freedom to insult others, then those insulted also have the right to counterattack."