U.S. Tightens Visa Rules for Chinese Media in Journalists Spat
The U.S. tightened visa rules for Chinese journalists in an ongoing spat between the two countries over media access.
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government tightened visa rules for Chinese journalists on Friday in the latest retaliatory measure in an ongoing spat between the two countries over media access.
The regulation will limit visas for Chinese journalists to a 90-day period, while allowing them to apply for extensions, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. Previously, the reporters were permitted to stay for an indefinite period.
Relations have deteriorated between the two countries since the coronavirus outbreak spread through the U.S. While exchanging barbs over the handling of the virus, the U.S. and China have been involved in a tit-for-tat involving visiting journalists from the respective nations.
In February, the U.S. designated five Chinese media companies as “foreign missions” while Beijing revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters, ostensibly to retaliate for an op-ed that called China the “real sick man of Asia.”
The U.S. in turn ordered four Chinese state-owned news outlets to slash the number of staff they had working in the U.S. China responded by expelling more than a dozen U.S. journalists from three American newspapers, and also asked five U.S. media outlets to submit detailed personnel and asset information to the government.
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With assistance from Bloomberg