China warned on Friday that it could take “countermeasures” after the US decision to limit the length of stay of journalists in the United States, with Chinese nationals subject to the strictest restrictions.
• Also read: The United States will limit the length of stays of journalists and foreign students
• Also read: The United States will limit the length of stays of journalists and foreign students
According to these new rules, which must come into force within two months unless blocked in Congress, foreign journalists will be limited to stays of 240 days, or approximately eight months, on American territory, while being able to request renewals for identical periods.
Chinese journalists will be subject to a particularly restrictive framework, with visas limited to 90 days and extensions of the same duration.
“China firmly opposes discriminatory actions by the United States targeting specific countries,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
“China demands that the United States immediately reverse its discriminatory policies against Chinese journalists,” Lin Jian continued during a regular press briefing, adding, without further details: “China reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures.”
This measure, which will affect journalists accredited for hundreds of foreign media in the United States, was proposed last year by the American government, which opened a consultation phase.
These new restrictions on visas constitute a new stage in the very restrictive migration policy of American President Donald Trump.
Since returning to power, his government has massively deported illegal immigrants and imposed a series of sometimes draconian restrictions on the legal entry of foreign nationals.
Press freedom organizations strongly criticized these new rules, with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) saying on Thursday it was “outraged”.
