The Trump administration is mulling whether it should expel some Chinese journalists after China barred three Wall Street Journal reporters working in the country.
The move is set to be discussed on Monday at a White House meeting led by deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, who himself once worked as a Wall Street Journal reporter in China. A number of senior administration officials are expected to attend, according to Bloomberg News.
There is disagreement internally about how the United States should respond to the expulsions, which came last week after the country said the outlet’s opinion piece referring to China as “the real sick man of Asia” was “racially discriminatory.”
Some at the White House want the U.S. to expel dozens or even hundreds of Chinese reporters in a tit for tat over the act. Other officials, however, are worried about the legal ramifications and if the move would reflect poorly given the constitutional right to freedom of the press.
John Ullyot, a spokesman for the National Security Council, called China’s decision to expel the journalists an “egregious act” on Friday.
“This expulsion is yet another attempt to control the press and prevent the world’s readers as well as investors from reading important stories about China,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang blasted the opinion piece that sparked the controversy and called it an attack on the country.
“Regrettably, what the WSJ has done so far is nothing but parrying and dodging its responsibility,” Geng said. “The Chinese people do not welcome those media that speak racially discriminatory language and maliciously slander and attack China.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired back at China after the news, arguing that “mature” countries don’t suppress free speech.
“Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions. The correct response is to present counter arguments, not restrict speech,” Pompeo said in a statement.
