A day after the Trump administration announced caps on the number of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-announces-caps-on-chinese-staff-working-in-state-media-in-us-283847">Chinese</a> nationals who can work for state-run media in the United States, the Chinese government said it will retaliate against US "bullying".

"Out of a Cold War mindset and ideological bias, the US State Department uses groundless reasons to politically oppress Chinese media organisations based in the US," China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said while strongly opposing the US move.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-expelling-journalists-china-demands-apology-from-the-wall-street-journal-282443">Also Read: After expelling journalists, China demands apology from WSJ</a>

"The hypocrisy of the United States' so-called freedom of the press as blatant double standard and hegemonic bullying," the foreign ministry spokesman added.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had announced on Monday that the US government would be implementing personnel cap on Chinese government-controlled media organizations in the United States.

"We urge Beijing to respect freedom of expression and will continue to seek reciprocity across the bilateral relationship," Pompeo had said.

The move by the US comes as China ordered three reporters from The Wall Street Journal to leave the country after the US-based newspaper in a headline said &nbsp;"China is the Real Sick Man of Asia" although the journalists hadn't written the opinion piece.

However, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "It was the US who broke the rules of the game first, China can only follow suit." 
&nbsp;

A day after the Trump administration announced caps on the number of Chinese nationals who can work for state-run media in the United States, the Chinese government said it will retaliate against US "bullying".

A day after the Trump administration announced caps on the number of Chinese nationals who can work for state-run media in the United States, the Chinese government said it will retaliate against US "bullying". "Out of a Cold War mindset and ideological bias, the US State Department uses groundless reasons to politically oppress Chinese media organisations based in the US," China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said while strongly opposing the US move. Also Read: After expelling journalists, China demands apology from WSJ "The hypocrisy of the United States' so-called freedom of the press as blatant double standard and hegemonic bullying," the foreign ministry spokesman added. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had announced on Monday that the US government would be implementing personnel cap on Chinese government-controlled media organizations in the United States. "We urge Beijing to respect freedom of expression and will continue to seek reciprocity across the bilateral relationship," Pompeo had said. The move by the US comes as China ordered three reporters from The Wall Street Journal to leave the country after the US-based newspaper in a headline said "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia" although the journalists hadn't written the opinion piece. However, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "It was the US who broke the rules of the game first, China can only follow suit."

It is hegemonic bullying, says China after US caps Chinese nationals in state media in US

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) in a report said that government was planning to send back more foreign journalists after row over three Wall Street Journal reporters in Beijing were sent back over a headline calling China the "real sick man of Asia".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-expelling-journalists-china-demands-apology-from-the-wall-street-journal-282443">Also Read: China demands apology from The Wall Street Journal</a> 
&nbsp;

"Since 2013, when Xi Jinping's ascension to power was completed, China has forced out nine foreign journalists, either through outright expulsion or by non-renewal of visas. The FCCC fears that China is preparing to expel more journalists," the group said.

The press body said that journalists were being threatened with the government intimidating the press fraternity by using it as a weapon&nbsp;"like never before".

"Chinese authorities are using visas as weapons against the foreign press like never before, expanding their deployment of a long-time intimidation tactic as working conditions for foreign journalists in China markedly deteriorated in 2019," it said.

However, China's foreign ministry said: "What happened to the Wall Street Journal journalists was just an independent case."

"There are over 600 foreign journalists stationed in China and they don't need to worry about their reporting in China as long as they observe Chinese laws and regulations," China's foreign ministry spokesman said.

The FCCC said at least 82 per cent journalists had experienced interference, harassment or violence while reporting.

"As China reaches new heights of economic influence, it has shown a growing willingness to use its considerable state power to suppress factual reporting that does not fit with the global image it seeks to present," the report said.

"As scrutiny is intensifying toward China, it is more important than ever for foreign media to have freedom to report and cover the country," the report added.

The press body said the ability of foreign journalists based in China is crucial for the news coverage about the country while waring that &nbsp;"hostility toward foreign press is now so pervasive that the most basic elements of journalism are often frustrated in China".&nbsp;

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) in a report said that government was planning to send back more foreign journalists after row over three Wall Street Journal reporters in Beijing were sent back over a headline calling China the "real sick man of Asia".

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) in a report said that government was planning to send back more foreign journalists after row over three Wall Street Journal reporters in Beijing were sent back over a headline calling China the "real sick man of Asia". Also Read: China demands apology from The Wall Street Journal "Since 2013, when Xi Jinping's ascension to power was completed, China has forced out nine foreign journalists, either through outright expulsion or by non-renewal of visas. The FCCC fears that China is preparing to expel more journalists," the group said. The press body said that journalists were being threatened with the government intimidating the press fraternity by using it as a weapon "like never before". "Chinese authorities are using visas as weapons against the foreign press like never before, expanding their deployment of a long-time intimidation tactic as working conditions for foreign journalists in China markedly deteriorated in 2019," it said. However, China's foreign ministry said: "What happened to the Wall Street Journal journalists was just an independent case." "There are over 600 foreign journalists stationed in China and they don't need to worry about their reporting in China as long as they observe Chinese laws and regulations," China's foreign ministry spokesman said. The FCCC said at least 82 per cent journalists had experienced interference, harassment or violence while reporting. "As China reaches new heights of economic influence, it has shown a growing willingness to use its considerable state power to suppress factual reporting that does not fit with the global image it seeks to present," the report said. "As scrutiny is intensifying toward China, it is more important than ever for foreign media to have freedom to report and cover the country," the report added. The press body said the ability of foreign journalists based in China is crucial for the news coverage about the country while waring that "hostility toward foreign press is now so pervasive that the most basic elements of journalism are often frustrated in China".

Chinese authorities using visas as weapons against foreign press: Report

China has revoked the press credentials of three journalists of the Wall Street Journal after the newspaper declined to apologise for a column with a headline calling China the "real sick man of Asia", the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

China has revoked the press credentials of three journalists of the Wall Street Journal after the newspaper declined to apologise for a column with a headline calling China the "real sick man of Asia", the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing made "stern representations" to the paper over the February 3 column, which China criticised as racist and denigrating its efforts to combat a coronavirus epidemic, but the paper had failed to apologise or investigate those responsible. "The Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racist statements and maliciously attack China," Geng told a daily briefing. "In light of this, China has decided to revoke the press cards of the three Wall Street Journal correspondents in Beijing, starting today." Also Read: US designates Chinese media outlets as 'foreign missions' He did not identify the journalists. The Wall Street Journal said its deputy bureau chief, Josh Chin, and reporters Chao Deng and Philip Wen, had been ordered to leave within five days. Chin and Deng are US citizens and Wen is Australian. In a statement, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China expressed "deep concern and strong condemnation" over the move. "The action taken against the Journal correspondents is an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based correspondents," it said. China's step comes after the United States said on Tuesday it would begin treating five Chinese state-run media entities with US operations the same as foreign embassies. Among these are the Xinhua news agency, China Global Television Network and China Daily Distribution Corp, which will be required to register employees and US properties with the State Department. Watch: Coronavirus Outbreak: China records over 1,693 deaths 24 hours Geng said China opposed the new rules and Beijing reserved the right to respond. China declined to renew credentials of another Wall Street Journal reporter last year. The June 30 report said Australian authorities were looking into the activities of one of President Xi Jinping's cousins as part of investigations into organised crime, money laundering and alleged Chinese influence-peddling. Foreigners are not allowed to work as journalists in China without official credentials, which are required to obtain a residence visa.

China revokes three press cards of three US journalists