The Chinese government is looking at tossing out reporters from The New York Times and Bloomberg News.
Vice President Joe Biden lobbied top Chinese leaders on Thursday on behalf of reporters for the Times and Bloomberg, who may be forced to leave China in the next few weeks if the government does not renew their visas, according to reports.
Biden discussed the possible banishment of US journalists with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to reports. The vice president also met with reporters from several US news organizations including the Times and Bloomberg.
Just last month The Post reported that Bloomberg editors killed two stories out of fear that the company’s other business ventures would be harmed.
The story also played out on social media.
Ian Johnson, a New York Times writer based in China, wrote on Twitter: ‘China is about to expel all NYT and Bloomberg correspondents from China — unprecedented. Biden raised issue with Xi.’
In a second tweet responding to someone who asked whether it was really true, Johnson wrote: ‘sad but true; 24 correspondents without a visa. first one leaves Dec. 17. All out by Dec. 31, unless govt changes course,” the Washington Post reported.
https://twitter.com/iandenisjohnson/status/408574160823001088