China censured the U.S. Wednesday for its “incorrect” characterization of the global coronavirus pandemic as Chinese in origin as it re-asserted the “right” to expel three American newspaper journalists and bar them even from working in nearby Hong Kong.
Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang delivered a series of instructions for the U.S. from the Communist state at a regular press briefing, saying it would not hesitate to take further action against U.S. media and journalists in China if the United States did not “correct its mistakes.”
“The U.S. has said that all options are on the table. Today, I can also tell the U.S. that all options are on the table for China,” Geng said.
The foreign ministry maintained American citizens working for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post with credentials expiring before the end of the year must surrender their press cards within 10 days.
As Breitbart News reported, Beijing flagged the move Tuesday saying it would ban American citizen journalists from several mainstream publications from working in China, claiming it represented a “reciprocal” measure to the U.S. State Department limiting Chinese state media staff to 100 Chinese nationals per media outlet.
Police make arrest after gunfire during California high school football game leaves 1 dead
Connecticut police officers shot, suspect killed after attempted arrest sparks hectic chase
‘Will Come Back to Bite You’: Top Official Asked Fauci for Vaccine Side Effect Study – Email
Breaking: Judge Slaps Down Karmelo Anthony’s Bid for New Trial
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, trailblazing GOP senator who broke barriers for women in Congress, dead at 94
Judge denies Karmelo Anthony new-trial bid after ex-lawyers detail dispute that kept him from testifying
Federal judge blasts Rubio’s 75-country visa freeze as ‘Orwellian,’ strikes down policy
Nashville hospital medication error leaves at least 1 patient paralyzed after routine surgery, 3 others hurt
Kalshi and prediction markets experience explosive growth, but also new legal challenges
FBI asked ‘Sammy the Bull’ if ex-Gambino mob prosecutor Comey knew meaning of ’86’: court filing
The Will of 100: Trump’s SAVE America Act sidelined after Senate unanimously agreed to August exit
New Reagan Movie Hits Theaters, Earns Big Thumbs Up from Audiences
Watch: Emotional Kurt Busch Reveals His Final Words with His Brother Kyle
USPS publishes rule to block mail-in ballots from states that don’t provide voter lists
Karmelo Anthony’s Legal Team Smears Austin Metcalf in Desperate Attempt to Overturn Conviction
China’s move accelerated a tit-for-tat between Beijing and Washington over press freedom, raised questions about Hong Kong’s autonomy under a one country, two systems” agreement that prevails between the former U.K. territory and the mainland.
But under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, as its mini constitution is known, Beijing is ultimately responsible for foreign affairs and defense in the former British colony, Reuters reports.
Geng said the expulsions were in response to U.S. actions and the decision to oust them, and block them from Hong Kong, fell under Beijing’s diplomatic purvue.
The Trump administration designated five Chinese state media outlets — Xinhua, China Daily, Hai Tian Development USA, China Global Television Network (CGTN), and China Radio International — “foreign missions” last month because their purpose is not to share news but to promote the agenda of the Communist Party.
“Unlike foreign media organizations in China, these entities are not independent news organizations,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in February, explaining the limits on the number of Chinese propagandists allowed to operate in the United States.
Police make arrest after gunfire during California high school football game leaves 1 dead
Connecticut police officers shot, suspect killed after attempted arrest sparks hectic chase
‘Will Come Back to Bite You’: Top Official Asked Fauci for Vaccine Side Effect Study – Email
Breaking: Judge Slaps Down Karmelo Anthony’s Bid for New Trial
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, trailblazing GOP senator who broke barriers for women in Congress, dead at 94
Judge denies Karmelo Anthony new-trial bid after ex-lawyers detail dispute that kept him from testifying
Federal judge blasts Rubio’s 75-country visa freeze as ‘Orwellian,’ strikes down policy
Nashville hospital medication error leaves at least 1 patient paralyzed after routine surgery, 3 others hurt
Kalshi and prediction markets experience explosive growth, but also new legal challenges
FBI asked ‘Sammy the Bull’ if ex-Gambino mob prosecutor Comey knew meaning of ’86’: court filing
The Will of 100: Trump’s SAVE America Act sidelined after Senate unanimously agreed to August exit
New Reagan Movie Hits Theaters, Earns Big Thumbs Up from Audiences
Watch: Emotional Kurt Busch Reveals His Final Words with His Brother Kyle
USPS publishes rule to block mail-in ballots from states that don’t provide voter lists
Karmelo Anthony’s Legal Team Smears Austin Metcalf in Desperate Attempt to Overturn Conviction
At the time, China branded the restrictions a “ridiculous war against Chinese media.”
Geng earlier said the United States needs to cease directing “unwarranted accusations” at China, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump described the new strain of coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus” on Twitter.
“Some U.S. political figures have recently been connecting the coronavirus with China,” Geng warned. “We express strong indignation and objection to such stigmatization.”
The official Chinese spokesman said describing the coronavirus as Chinese violates principles set out by various international agencies, although he declined to name them or point to their direct warning against ever publicly criticizing Communist China.
Geng also took the opportunity to attack the U.S. response to the pandemic that first started in the southern China city of Wuhan.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads and worsens all over the world, the urgent task for the international community is to respond with aggressive and concerted efforts,” he said.
“The United States should get its domestic issues handled first.”
Story cited here.
