Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Commenting on reports that the US is considering ousting Chinese journalists in retaliation to China revoking three Beijing-based Wall Street Journal (WSJ) journalists' press credentials, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that anyone with a conscience and a sense of morality should oppose and resist such improper words and deeds, rather than deliberately confuse right from wrong, and take a biased stance to support a media outlet that refuses to own up to its mistakes and apologize.

Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a routine press conference on Tuesday.

The term " sick man of Asia" is closely attached to a particular historical period in China, and is extremely derogatory. The WSJ headline challenges the bottom line of Chinese dignity, hurts the feelings of and enrages the Chinese people, Zhao noted.

Even in a letter signed by 53 WSJ employees in China, they protested the use of the words in the headline of the article, saying "This is not about editorial independence or the sanctity of the divide between news and opinion. It is about the mistaken choice of a headline that was deeply offensive to many people, not just in China," Zhao said.

If a media outlet openly makes racist remarks in the US, what kind of punishment would it be faced with? It is obvious to the international community that the US practices the double standard toward media in which "those who comply with me thrive and those who resist me perish." Is this what the US upholds as "freedom of speech?" Zhao asked at the conference.

"US officials should explain that in the past two years, how many Chinese journalists to the US have been unreasonably declined or delayed for visa issuance?"

China is consistent in welcoming foreign media to the country to report the country objectively and comprehensively, and has been providing support and convenience for foreign journalists in China in accordance with international practices and laws, he said.

But we resolutely oppose ill-intended attempts to tarnish China under the banner of "freedom of speech," he said, noting that foreign media agencies in China and their journalists must abide by Chinese laws and regulations, and observe journalistic ethics, which is common in any nations, he said.

Zhao urged the US side to take off its ideologically colored glasses, stop unjustified accusations against China, and do more that is constructive to bilateral cooperation and mutual trust.

Zhao also confirmed that one of the three WSJ journalists whose press credentials were revoked last week is in Wuhan, the COVID19 outbreak epicenter, and out of humanitarian considerations, the journalist has been allowed to stay until the situation is feasible to leave China.

The city said on Monday that it is still under a strict lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus.