China, US spat over visa denial to PIO journalist
Beijing: China’s alleged refusal to extend the visa of an Indian- origin American journalist has led to a diplomatic spat with the US which expressed deep concern over the “extensive restrictions” on the media. Megha Rajagopalan, who worked for the US news portal BuzzFeed. Com, said her journalist visa was not extended by China, apparently due to her critical reporting on the volatile Xinjiang province.
Beijing, Aug. 24: China’s alleged refusal to extend the visa of an Indian- origin American journalist has led to a diplomatic spat with the US which expressed deep concern over the “extensive restrictions” on the media in the Communist nation.
Megha Rajagopalan, who worked for the US news portal BuzzFeed. Com, said her journalist visa was not extended by China, apparently due to her critical reporting on the volatile Xinjiang province.
The US Embassy, in a statement on Friday, expressed concerned over foreign and domestic journalists facing excessive restrictions in China.
“The United States is deeply concerned that foreign and domestic journalists in China continue to face excessive restrictions that impede their ability to do their jobs,” the statement said, without directly referring to Rajagopalan’s visa issue.
The Embassy listed delays in processing foreign journalist visas, travel restrictions and violence at the hands of local authorities among its concerns.
In an apparent reference to the number of Chinese journalists working in the US, the statement said that better access in China was necessary to “ensure reciprocity” for the open access Chinese media enjoys in America.
Beijing on Frisay took a serious exception to the US embassy expressing concern over the media restrictions in China, with the statement drawing sharp reaction from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang. “The US embassy in China should know that it should earnestly abide by the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, refrain from activities inconsistent with the status of the embassy and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries,” he said.