The last two Chinese journalists in India were denied visa renewals, the first since 1980 when no Chinese state media reporters were stationed in India. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called this an unreasonable repression and said it would take countermeasures.
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 31st, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Maoning said at a press conference, “I can tell you that Chinese media reporters have long been unfair and discriminatory treatment in India.” It was a commentary on a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 30th that the two neighboring countries had kicked out almost all of each other’s journalists.
Spokesperson Mao said that in 2017, India reduced the visa validity period for Chinese journalists from one month to three months for no reason, and there were situations such as requiring reporters to leave the country even though the visa or employment period remained valid. “In the face of this long-term and unreasonable suppression by India, China has no choice but to take appropriate countermeasures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese media,” he said. The Chinese journalists who were denied visa renewal this time belong to the state-run Xinhua News Agency and the state-run China Central Television (CCTV).
Mao, on the other hand, did not say how many Indian journalists remain in China. According to a WSJ report, two out of four Indian journalists based in China have not been issued a visa to return to China, and one said this month that they were told their visas had been revoked but they could remain in China.
Spokesman Mao said China was willing to maintain communication with India “based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit”.
“We also hope that the Indian side will meet with us halfway, respond seriously to our legitimate concerns, and take practical steps as soon as possible to create favorable conditions for the resumption of normal media exchanges between the two countries,” he said.
Relations between rivals China and India have deteriorated after clashes broke out in 2020 in the disputed border region of the Galwan Valley, killing at least four Chinese and 20 Indian soldiers.
Source: Donga
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