Action promised against India amid feud over visas for journalists
Beijing yesterday said it would take appropriate countermeasures against India’s “unfair and discriminatory treatment” of Chinese journalists, but called for practical action so that normal media exchanges could resume.
This comes after The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that the neighbouring countries had kicked out nearly all of each other’s journalists.
The report said the last two Chinese journalists in India – from state news agency Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV – had been denied visa renewals.
Beijing’s foreign ministry confirmed yesterday that two reporters in India had not been granted visa extensions.
According to the newspaper, there are no longer any Chinese state media reporters in India – likely for the first time since at least the 1980s.
The report also said that of the four China-based Indian journalists, two were not granted visas to return to China, and one was told this month that his accreditation had been revoked but he could remain in the country.
“What I can tell you is that for a long time Chinese media reporters have suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said when asked about the expulsions.
According to Mao, India had in 2017 “without reason” shortened the validity period of Chinese journalists’ visas to between one and three months. She said that in 2020, New Delhi had also refused to approve applications for Chinese reporters to be permanently based in the country.
“What’s more, in December 2021, a China Media Group reporter in India – with their visa still valid for two months and their employment still active for half a year – was required to leave the country within 10 days,” said Mao, adding that New Delhi had yet to provide an explanation for that case.
“Faced with this long-term unreasonable suppression by the Indian side, China has no choice but to take appropriate countermeasures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese media.”
She did not say how many Indian reporters remained in China. But in April – when reporters for The Hindu newspaper and state broadcaster Prasar Bharati were barred from returning – Mao said two other Indian outlets still had journalists in the country.
She said Beijing was willing to maintain communication with New Delhi “based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit”.
“We also hope that the Indian side can meet us halfway, seriously respond to our legitimate concerns, and take practical action as soon as possible to create favourable conditions for the resumption of normal media exchanges between the two countries.”
On Tuesday, Liu Jinsong, head of the foreign ministry’s Asian affairs department, met three visiting Indian journalists. Liu told them that as emerging developing countries, China and India should work together to settle their differences, cooperate and achieve mutual success, according to a statement from the department.
What I can tell you is that for a long time, Chinese media reporters have suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India
MAO NING, FOREIGN MINISTRY