Beijing, June 1 (EFE).- China on Monday accused The New York Times of serving as a platform for what it called Taiwan’s “separatist rhetoric” and defended its decision to revoke the credentials of one of the newspaper’s correspondents, in its first public response to the controversy surrounding the journalist’s departure from the country.
Speaking at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused the newspaper of openly referring to “China’s Taiwan region” as “a country,” which, he said, “sends an extremely wrong signal to separatist forces.”
He urged the outlet to “correct its mistakes.”
Addressing the case of correspondent Vivian Wang, Lin said the journalist had allegedly committed insurance-related fraud while working in China, which, according to him, violated regulations governing foreign news organizations and prompted authorities to cancel her press credentials.
The spokesperson also alleged that the US was exerting political pressure on journalists from China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency working legally in the country under the pretext of “professional ethics” concerns.
Lin argued that the root of media-related tensions between China and the US lies in Washington’s decision to “politicize media issues unilaterally.”
He said China had facilitated the work and daily lives of foreign journalists and had issued visas to numerous American reporters, while Chinese journalists applying to work in the US faced significant difficulties obtaining approval.
“We urge the United States to effectively implement the consensus reached by both sides on media-related issues and take concrete measures to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese journalists to work and live normally in the United States,” Lin said.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office on Sunday accused China of “interfering with press freedom” and “threatening media organizations” after The New York Times reported that Beijing had ordered Wang to leave the country because it was displeased with a video address by Taiwanese President William Lai, also known as Lai Ching-te, at a forum organized by the newspaper.
China has recently intensified efforts to limit Taiwan’s international presence.
Beijing again blocked the self-governed island’s participation in the annual assembly of the World Health Organization and has increased pressure on third countries.
In April, Taipei blamed Beijing for the suspension of Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permissions. EFE
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