Beijing revoked the work permits of Chinese citizens working as researchers and assistants at U.S. media organizations in China, the latest in a tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute.
Two Chinese news assistants at the New York Times and one at the Wall Street Journal were told by the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions earlier this week that their work permits were revoked, the South China Morning Post reported. A Chinese news assistant at Voice of America also had their work permit rescinded.
Chinese nationals are not permitted to work as reporters for foreign news outlets in the country, but they can work as researchers and Chinese-language assistants and secretaries.
China pulled the credentials of five American media outlets on Tuesday, retaliating against President Trump’s requirement that Chinese state-run media organizations operating in the United States register as foreign missions and placed restrictions on the number of Chinese nationals they could employ in the states.
“They will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People’s Republic of China, including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The new policy affects Voice of America, a U.S.-funded outlet; the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Time magazine. Employees of those organizations must hand in their press badges within 10 days.
Last month, China revoked the credentials of three other Wall Street Journal reporters over an opinion headline China said was racist.
