US Adds 6 Chinese Media Outlets as Foreign Missions... China Warns "Will Take Action"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 21st (local time), the United States designated six Chinese media outlets headquartered and operated in China as "foreign missions," prompting a strong backlash from the Chinese government.

According to AP News and others, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced at a briefing that this measure was taken to counter the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party. The targeted media outlets are Economic Daily, Jiefang Daily (Haebang Ilbo), Yicai Global, Xinmin Evening News, China Press Social Sciences, and Beijing Review.

Secretary Pompeo explained that "all are effectively owned or controlled by a foreign government," and that these media outlets are all under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. He said, "There are no restrictions on what these outlets can publish in the United States," but added, "We simply want American consumers of information to be able to distinguish between news written by a free press and propaganda distributed by the Chinese Communist Party. They are not the same."

Foreign media reported that with this measure, the number of Chinese media designated as foreign missions in the U.S. this year has reached 15. Media outlets designated as foreign missions by the U.S. government are required to notify the State Department of their personnel lists and asset holdings such as real estate within the United States. Previously, the State Department designated five outlets including Xinhua News Agency in February, and four outlets including China Central Television (CCTV) in June as foreign missions.

AP reported that the Trump administration is seeking to strengthen anti-China measures with new restrictions ahead of next month's presidential election, stating, "The already deteriorating tensions in U.S.-China relations are expected to deepen further."

The Chinese government strongly opposed the U.S. measure. On the 22nd, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing, "Recently, the U.S. government has been applying political pressure without any basis or reason on the legitimate reporting activities of Chinese media and their staff," pointing out that "such actions constitute political pressure on media and journalists stationed in the U.S." He added, "China expresses firm opposition and strong regret over the U.S.'s irrational actions," and warned, "China will take just and necessary measures in response."