The US takes Chinese journalists as "hostages" to exert extreme pressure on China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds

The U.S. treats Chinese media reporters as "hostages" to exert extreme pressure on China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China will never take this set

　　China News Service, Beijing, September 7 (Reporter Zhang Ziyang) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing on the 7th that the United States has used the issue of visa extension for Chinese journalists in the United States as a threat to use Chinese media reporters as "hostages" to exert extreme pressure on China. , "China will never eat this set."

　　At the regular press conference that day, a reporter asked: According to reports from the New York Times and CNN, the spokesperson of the US State Department recently issued a statement stating that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has notified the US Embassy in China recently and refused to postpone the journalist for US media reporters in China. This proves that the relevant approach is a reciprocal response to the US.

Please confirm from China. Will China's relevant practices lead to further escalation of China-US media issues?

　　Zhao Lijian responded that the statement made by the spokesperson of the US State Department was completely inconsistent with the facts and was a slap in the face.

　　Zhao Lijian said that the fact is that the renewal of the press card of journalists from relevant US media including CNN is in the process of processing. Until the new press card is issued, the reporter's coverage and life in China will not be affected in any way.

We have told the US side.

　　Zhao Lijian said that for a period of time, the United States has escalated its political suppression of the Chinese media, which has reached the level of hysteria.

Since 2018, the US has indefinitely delayed or even refused visas for 30 Chinese journalists, registered Chinese media in the US as "foreign agents" and listed as "foreign missions", and "deported" 60 Chinese journalists in the United States in disguise. The visa stay period of Chinese journalists in the United States has been reduced to no more than 90 days.

The above-mentioned journalists’ visas expired on August 6. They had already submitted visa extension applications to the United States as required, but the United States has not extended the visa to any Chinese journalists so far, making the work and life of the Chinese journalists stationed in the United States in place. Great uncertainty.

　　Zhao Lijian said that the relevant US actions have seriously interfered with Chinese media’s normal reporting activities in the United States, seriously damaged the reputation of Chinese media, and seriously interfered with normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.

On the one hand, the United States advertises freedom of the press, on the other hand it discriminates against the Chinese media, and even uses Chinese reporters in the United States as "hostages" to pressure China. This exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called "freedom of the press" of the United States, which is naked. "Double standards" and hegemonic bullying.

　　Zhao Lijian emphasized that even so, China has always expressed its willingness to resolve the issue of media reporters from the two countries with the US on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and has been maintaining communication and discussions with the US.

In order to show sincerity, even when the U.S. side shortened the visa of Chinese journalists in the U.S. to three months without distinction, China still exercises restraint and has not implemented relevant countermeasures so far. It has normally extended visas for U.S. journalists and reported for them. Provide convenience.

Moreover, when the US expelled more than 60 Chinese journalists and refused to sign more than 20 journalists, China did not expel the same number of US journalists.

However, during the negotiation process, the US side was arrogant and unreasonable, turning a deaf ear to China's normal and reasonable concerns and requests, and did not mention a word, and used the issue of visa extension of Chinese journalists in the US as a threat to put Chinese media reporters as "hostages" to exert extreme pressure on China.

China will never eat this set.

　　Zhao Li insisted that it should be pointed out that the reporters of the US media in China are aware of the above facts. They do not agree with the US government's suppression of the Chinese media for political purposes and a "media war", and they oppose using the media of the two countries as pawns of the game. .

If the United States really cares about American journalists, it should extend visas for all Chinese journalists as soon as possible, instead of taking journalists from the two countries as "hostages" for the political interests of some politicians.

　　Zhao Lijian said that I once again urge the United States to meet China halfway, show sincerity, and respond to China's legitimate and reasonable requests as soon as possible based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity, especially the normal extension of visas for all Chinese journalists in the United States.

All the options of the Chinese side are on the table, and the US side is very clear.

If the United States insists on going its own way, adding mistakes to mistakes, China can only be forced to make necessary and legitimate responses and firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

(Finish)