Beijing and Washington have been in a constant back to back war with each other’s media outlets for a while now. Amidst all these, China brought a new visa restriction to the people working for the US media from China.
Visa Restrictions
As a result, in the past week when these media people went to renew their press credentials, they were handed a paper which said that their credentials are still in the process instead of a new card.
A card will usually last for a year, but the media staffs are asked to carry the papers with them wherever they go to show their journalist rights.
And their visas are tied to the press card hence their stay in China has been reduced to merely two months instead of the usual, a year. And also it can be revoked anytime.
All these things made the US media people scared and confused about their jobs and safety. Both US and non-US reporters and journalists are being targeted and affected by this new restriction.
A Revenge Play
The Chinese officials said that this restriction is nothing personal but a payback to Trump’s treatment of Chinese journalists in the United States. In May, Washington limited the stay of US-based Chinese journalists to 90 days.
So this proves that it is indeed a payback unless both the parties come to an agreement the people from their country stuck on the opposite country is going to suffer for sure.