By Lily Kuo in Shanghai, Helen Davidson in Hong Kong and Graham Russell
Beijing defends ban of 13 journalists, which has been criticised as irresponsible during coronavirus crisis
Beijing has defended its decision to expel journalists from three major US publications, saying it was responding to “unreasonable oppression” of Chinese journalists in the US, as a diplomatic row escalates between the two countries.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, the foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing had been “compelled” to take countermeasures after Washington imposed restrictions on staff at Chinese state media outlets in the US.
Source: China: expulsion of US journalists was response to ‘unreasonable oppression’
