The United States is seeking to designate at least four Chinese media outlets as embassies of the Chinese Communist Party, which will restrict the outlets from U.S. soil.
Reuters reports the State Department’s action could come as soon as Thursday and follows President Trump’s announcement last week of retaliatory measures against Beijing after it tightened its grip on Hong Kong.
The designations are expected to include top state-owned network China Central Television, China News Service, the country’s second-largest state-owned news agency.
Earlier this year, the State Department designated five other Chinese state-run media outlets operating within the United States as arms of the Chinese government. Those outlets included Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation, and Hai Tian Development USA.
Like those outlets, the new proposed agencies will be required to register their employees and U.S. properties with the State Department, similar to rules covering embassies and other diplomatic missions.
The White House and State Department have yet to comment on the decision.