US-China Conflict Escalating into 'Media War'... China Hints at Expelling US Journalists from Hong Kong

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As tensions between the United States and China escalate, the conflict has expanded into a media war between the two countries. Following the closure of each other's consulates, the U.S. has refused to extend visas for Chinese journalists, raising the possibility that China may expel American journalists based in the mainland and Hong Kong.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated the previous day that none of the Chinese journalists in the U.S. had received visa extensions and warned the U.S. that China would take reciprocal retaliatory measures. The U.S. had shortened the visas of Chinese journalists to three months last May. The visa expiration date is June 6.

The additional retaliatory measures mentioned by China suggest that American journalists in both mainland China and Hong Kong could face visa restrictions or expulsion.

Spokesperson Wang said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is part of China," and added, "China's response to U.S. suppression falls under the central government's diplomatic authority."

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, also warned, "There are hundreds of American journalists in Hong Kong, and if the China-U.S. media war intensifies, it is obvious who will be more hurt."

The U.S. and China have been in conflict over each other's media since February.

When the U.S. designated five Chinese state-run media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, as "foreign missions" under Chinese government control and imposed regulations, China expelled three Wall Street Journal journalists, citing a column with a racially discriminatory headline.

In March, China canceled press credentials for about ten journalists from three American newspapers and reportedly denied work permits to some Chinese staff supporting their coverage.

In the same month, the U.S. limited the number of journalists that five Chinese media outlets could employ, expelling 60 journalists. As a result, the number of Chinese journalists in the U.S. was reduced from 160 to 100.

Additionally, in May, the U.S. tightened visa regulations for Chinese journalists, and in June, designated four more outlets, including CCTV and Global Times, as foreign missions. In response, China demanded business information from four American media companies, including the Associated Press.