British Broadcasting Corporation’s China correspondent, Stephen McDonnell, said in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon that China will be expelling American journalists from the country.
“Wow! All #US journalists working for New York Times, Wall St Journal and the Washington Post (who’s credentials expire this year) to be expelled from #China,” he tweeted. “They have 10 days to leave. #Beijing has just announced.
Wow! All #US journalists working for New York Times, Wall St Journal and the Washington Post (who’s credentials expire this year) to be expelled from #China. They have 10 days to leave. #Beijing has just announced.
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) March 17, 2020
In a follow up tweet, McDonell clarified that he doesn’t know if this means a removal of their visas, but stressed that without press credentials, the U.S. journalists cannot work in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
The BBC reporter tweeted: “I’m not sue if the removal of #China press credentials for #US journalists working for NYT, WSJ and WaPo also technically means automatic removal of their visas but no credentials means no work here in mainland China, #HongKong or #Macao.
I’m not sue if the removal of #China press credentials for #US journalists working for NYT, WSJ and WaPo also technically means automatic removal of their visas but no credentials means no work here in mainland China, #HongKong or #Macao.
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) March 17, 2020
The New York Times confirmed the story, reporting that China announced Tuesday that it was kicking out U.S. journalists working for The Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, and ordered those outlets, along with Voice of America and Time magazine, to provide detailed information about their operations.
The move comes after the State Department announced earlier this month a cap of 100 Chinese citizens who could be employed in the U.S. for five state-owned media outlets.
China claps back: @EmilyZFeng reports all Chinese employees of VOA, NYT, WaPo, WSJ and TIME have to submit their financial information and assets. #breaking
— Elise Hu (@elisewho) March 17, 2020
China's responding to the recent US govt move to designate five Chinese state media entities as foreign missions and to cap the number of Chinese state journalists at these organizations to 100.
— Elise Hu (@elisewho) March 17, 2020
It also comes after a tweet from President Trump on Monday, who called COVID-19, which first broke out in Wuhan, China, the “Chinese virus.”
“The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!” the president tweeted.
The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Trump came under immediate fire by Democrats and their liberal media allies, who accused him of injecting race into the pandemic.
New York City’s Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio was quick to come to the defense of the Chicoms.
Comrade de Blasio accused the president of “fueling more bigotry.”
If you’re looking for someone to pin this crisis on, try the guy who made up a phony Google website or promised testing kits that he STILL hasn’t delivered.
Our Asian-American communities — people YOU serve — are already suffering. They don’t need you fueling more bigotry. https://t.co/jjcO7treC2
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 17, 2020
Beijing objects to any such reference, suggesting that the coranavirus may not have originated in China.
There are more than 170,000 reported coronavirus cases worldwide, with more than 80,000 in China, according to the BBC.
A controversial Chinese diplomat went so far last week as to suggest the U.S. military may have brought the novel coronavirus to China.
The BBC reported that Trump’s tweet angered Beijing, noting that a foreign ministry spokesman warned the US should “take care of its own business” before stigmatizing China.
“We urge the US to correct its mistake and stop its groundless accusations against China,” the spokesman said.
China’s official news agency Xinhua said Trump’s tweet was “racist and xenophobic.”
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Tom@bizpacreview.com
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
