BEIJING: China called on the United States to extend visas for all Chinese journalists in the US as soon as possible out of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, adding that the US is very clear that China has all options on the table.
Zhao made the remark at a regular news briefing when asked about a US State Department spokesperson’s recent statement that the Chinese Foreign Ministry had recently told the US Embassy in Beijing it was denying press card renewals to foreign journalists.
“The statement is completely untrue and it is aimed to shift the blame,” Zhao told reporters. According to Zhao, the extensions of press cards held by the US journalists, including those working for CNN, are being handled and they will not be affected in any way before they are granted new press cards.
“We have formally told the US about it,” he said, noting that China has been communicating with the US, hoping to resolve the issue concerning Chinese and US media and journalists on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
The spokesman said that although the US has been escalating its political suppression of China’s media for some time, including limiting visas for all Chinese journalists in the US to a maximum of 90 days’ stay, China has been exercising restraint without implementing countermeasures and has extended visas for US journalists as usual to provide convenience for them.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
