China Takes Countermeasures Against US Suppression of Chinese Media Organizations in the United States 中方针对美方打压中国媒体驻美机构行为采取反制措施
(Jennifer’s note: The following is the English translation of a Chinese language statement published at the website of CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN AUCKLAND)
March 18, 2020 2020/03/18
In recent years, the U.S. government has unreasonably restricted the normal news reporting activities of Chinese media agencies and personnel in the United States, making it unreasonably difficult, and has escalated discrimination and political suppression against the Chinese media, especially in December 2018, the United States requested relevant Chinese media agencies in the United States to be registered as a "foreign agent", and listed five Chinese media agencies in the United States as "foreign missions" in February 2020, and then adopted a number of restrictions on the above five media agencies in the United States. The United States also limited the number of reporters of the above mentioned 5 Chinese media outlets. This equals to expelling Chinese reporters in a disguised way. China immediately made solemn representations to the US regarding its wrongdoing, expressed its firm opposition and strong condemnation, and stressed that it reserves the right to respond and take measures.
近年来，美国政府对中国媒体驻美机构和人员的正常新闻报道活动无端设限，无理刁难，不断升级对中国媒体的歧视和政治打压，特别是2018年12月美方要求有关中国媒体驻美机构注册为“外国代理人”，2020年2月将5家中国媒体驻美机构列为“外国使团”，随即又对上述5家媒体驻美机构采取人数限制措施，变相大量“驱逐”中方媒体记者。中方第一时间就美方错误做法向美方提出严正交涉，表达坚决反对和强烈谴责，并强调保留做出反应和采取措施的权利。
The Chinese side announced that starting from today:
中方宣布，自即日起：
1. In response to the fact that five Chinese media agencies in the United States are listed as "foreign missions", China now requires five American media outlets including "Voice of America", "New York Times", "Wall Street Journal", "Washington Post", and "Time" to report to China in writing the information of all their staff members as well as their financial, business operations, and real estate ownership information.
第一，针对美方将5家中国媒体驻美机构列为“外国使团”，中方对等要求“美国之音”、《纽约时报》、《华尔街日报》、《华盛顿邮报》、《时代周刊》这5家美国媒体驻华分社向中方申报在中国境内所有工作人员、财务、经营、所拥有不动产信息等书面材料。
2. Second, in response to the significant reduction of personnel in the United States and the actual deportation of employees of Chinese media agencies in the United States, China requires American journalists who work for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, and whose press passes will expire at the end of this year, to report within four days from today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and to return their press passes within 10 days. In the future, they are not allowed to continue to work as a journalists in the People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
第二，针对美方大幅削减、实际驱逐中国媒体驻美机构员工，中方要求《纽约时报》、《华尔街日报》、《华盛顿邮报》年底前记者证到期的美籍记者从即日起4天内向外交部新闻司申报名单，并于10天内交还记者证，今后不得在中华人民共和国，包括香港、澳门特别行政区继续从事记者工作。
3. China will take reciprocal measures against American journalists in view of discriminatory restrictions imposed by the US on Chinese journalists in visas, administrative examinations, and interviews.
第三，针对美方对中国记者在签证、行政审查、采访等方面采取歧视性限制措施，中方将对美国记者采取对等措施。
The above-mentioned measures by the Chinese side are totally a necessary counter-reaction against the United States' unreasonable suppression of the Chinese media agencies in the United States, and are completely legitimate defenses. The U.S. approach to the Chinese media is based on Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice. It seriously damages the reputation and image of the Chinese media, seriously affects the normal operation of the Chinese media in the United States, severely disrupts the normal humanities exchanges between China and the United States, and exposes the so-called "self-proclaimed" The hypocrisy of "freedom of the press". China urges the United States to immediately change its course and correct mistakes, and stop political suppression and unreasonable restrictions on the Chinese media. If the U.S. insists on doing it alone, adding wrong to wrong, China will surely take further countermeasures.
中方上述措施完全是对美方无理打压中国媒体驻美机构被迫进行的必要对等反制，完全是正当合理防卫。美方有关做法专门针对中国媒体，是基于冷战思维和意识形态偏见，严重损害中国媒体的声誉和形象，严重影响中国媒体在美正常运作，严重干扰中美正常人文交流，暴露其自我标榜的所谓“新闻自由”的虚伪性。中方敦促美方立即改弦更张、纠正错误，停止对中国媒体的政治打压和无理限制。如果美方一意孤行，错上加错，中方也必将采取进一步的反制措施。
China's basic national policy of adhering to opening up has not changed, nor will it change. We always welcome media and journalists from various countries to conduct interviews and reports in China in accordance with laws and regulations, and will continue to provide convenience and assistance. What we are opposed to is ideological prejudice against China. We are opposed to making fake news through the so-called freedom of the press. We are opposed to acts that violate journalistic ethics. It is hoped that foreign media and journalists will play an active role in promoting mutual understanding between China and the world.
中国坚持对外开放的基本国策没有改变，也不会改变，我们始终欢迎各国媒体和记者依法依规在中国从事采访报道工作，并将继续提供便利和协助。我们反对的是针对中国的意识形态偏见，反对的是借所谓新闻自由炮制假新闻，反对的是违反新闻职业道德的行为。希望外国媒体和记者为促进中国与世界的相互了解发挥积极作用。
Source: 原载于：http://www.chinaconsulate.org.nz/chn/fyrth/t1757128.htm
A Screenshot of the Chinese language statement published at the website of CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN AUCKLAND, with a little bit re-touching of CCP’s national emblem。中共外交部声明网站截图。
3/17/2020
