China delays renewing expiring credentials for journalists from US

China has refrained from renewing the expiring press credentials for journalists from US media outlets, two of the affected news organisations reported, amid an ongoing tussle with the US over journalist visas.

The move comes as Chinese journalists in the US wait for their lapsed work visas to be renewed. The Chinese journalists have been allowed to stay in the US during a 90-day grace period that expires in early November, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Wall Street Journal’s Jeremy Page, a Briton, and US journalist David Culver from CNN were issued letters allowing them to continue working in

China with their expired press credentials, the two outlets reported respectively.

Culver was told the arrangement had nothing to do with his reporting but was a “reciprocal measure” in response to the Trump administration’s treatment of Chinese journalists, CNN reported. The Wall Street Journal reported authorities had indicated that renewal of the press passes would depend on what happened with

Chinese journalists in the US.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday on Twitter that “we would be glad to continue our excellent co-operation with the US journalists here if Chinese journalists are treated fairly in the US”.

Visas allowing foreign journalists to live in China are linked to their press credentials. The affected journalists could apply to renew their visas with the letter, but the new visa would only be valid for two months, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported — shorter than the usual one year.

A CNN spokesperson confirmed one of its Beijing-based journalists was recently issued a visa valid for two months. “However, our presence on the ground in China remains unchanged and we are continuing to work with local authorities to ensure that continues.”

Beijing and Washington, whose relations have deteriorated sharply over a range of issues, have exchanged several tit-for-tat actions involving journalists.

In March, the US slashed the number of Chinese nationals allowed to work at the US offices of major Chinese stateowned media to 100 from 160.

China then expelled about a dozen US journalists working for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

Our presence on the ground in China remains unchanged