The United States has listed six Chinese media as "foreign missions." Zhao Lijian: China will make a proper and necessary response
China News Service, Beijing, October 22 (Reporter Zhang Weiran) In response to the U.S. announcement that six Chinese media have been listed as "foreign missions", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 22nd that this is the United States. In response to the latest political suppression and stigmatization of Chinese media and journalists in the United States, China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the unreasonable actions of the United States, and will make a legitimate and necessary response.
According to reports, US Secretary of State Pompeo announced on the 21st that six more Chinese media organizations in the United States were listed as "foreign missions."
These six media are Yi Cai Global, Jiefang Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Chinese Social Science Magazine, Beijing Weekly and Economic Daily.
Zhao Lijian responded to this on the 22nd, stating that in recent years, the US government has imposed unreasonable restrictions on the normal news reporting activities of Chinese media organizations and personnel in the United States, unreasonably created difficulties, and continuously escalated discrimination and political repression against Chinese media.
In December 2018, the United States requested that Chinese media organizations in the United States register as "foreign agents."
On February 18, 2020, the United States listed Xinhua News Agency, "China Daily" American distribution company, China International Television Station (CGTN), China Radio International, and "People's Daily" overseas edition of the United States general agent five Chinese media agencies in the United States as "Foreign Missions".
On June 22, the US announced the addition of four Chinese media including China Central Television (CCTV), People's Daily, Global Times, and China News Service as "foreign missions."
He said that on October 21, the US announced that six Chinese media outlets would be listed as "foreign missions."
This is the latest political suppression and stigmatization of Chinese media and journalists in the United States.
China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the unreasonable actions of the United States.
Zhao Lijian pointed out that the U.S.'s relevant practices specifically targeted the Chinese media, based on Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice, which severely damaged the reputation and image of the Chinese media, seriously interfered with the normal operation of the Chinese media in the United States, seriously interfered with the normal cultural exchanges between China and the United States, and exposed its self-promotion. The hypocrisy of the so-called "freedom of the press".
In this regard, China will make a proper and necessary response.
Zhao Lijian emphasized that we urge the US to immediately change its course, correct its mistakes, and stop political suppression and unreasonable restrictions on the Chinese media.
(Finish)