Media that insults China must pay the price: China on expulsion of WSJ scribes

February 20, 2020 17:01

China on Thursday defended expelling three foreign journalists of the Wall Street Journal, saying that media which insults, smears the country and support racial discrimination "must pay the price".

China on Wednesday expelled three journalists of the Wall Street Journal following an article in the newspaper titled "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia' by Walter Russell Mead published on February 3 as the country was fighting an all-out war against the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 2,000 people.

China's Foreign Ministry revoked the press cards of three WSJ journalists (two Americans and one Australian) and asked them to leave the country within five days.

The move had come less than a day after US officials announced they would be treating five major Chinese state-run media companies -- Xinhua, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily and People's Daily -- as effective extensions of the Chinese government.

Asked whether the expulsion was solely because of the headline of the article or in retaliation to US government's decision to list five Chinese official media outlets as foreign missions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang told during an online media briefing that "those media who blatantly insult China, supports racial discrimination and maliciously smear China must pay the price'.

"I also responded to the US announcement of designating five Chinese media organisations as foreign missions yesterday (Wednesday). We reserve the right to make further responses,' he said. The expulsion of the three journalists was condemned by the US, saying mature and responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinion. Geng also attacked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for condemning the WSJ scribes' expulsions and his call to China to not restrict freedom of speech. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Population rise not religion-linked, Muslim fertility rate lowest: NGO

In a statement, the Population Foundation of India said it is deeply concerned about recent media reports "misreporting" the findings from the study to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population in the country.

Hasaranga to lead Sri Lanka at T20 World Cup

Hasaranga too is returning from a chronic heel pain on his left leg, which forced him to miss the ongoing IPL.

BSE now corners a fifth of derivatives market share

BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) has seen its market share go past the critical 20 per cent mark in the derivatives segment, intensifying its battle with bigger rival - the National Stock Exchange (NSE) - which, less than a year ago,...

Campaigning not a fundamental right: ED opposes Kejri's bail in SC

In a fresh affidavit filed in the top court, the ED said no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning even if he is not contesting polls.

Deal valuations weigh on Apollo Hospitals stock

The stock of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (AHEL), India's largest listed health care services company, fell 4.6 per cent on Monday (April 29) and slipped another 0.34 per cent to close at Rs 5,946.20 on Tuesday (April 30). The share...