Taiwan Criticizes China’s Expulsion of U.S. Journalist

A spokeswoman for Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, condemned China’s recent expulsion of a New York Times journalist, accusing Beijing of using “baseless pretexts” to target the media. She described this act as indicative of China being a “troublemaker.”

The expulsion involved Vivian Wang, a reporter stationed in Beijing, who was forced to leave in February following President Lai’s virtual appearance at a Times DealBook summit in New York back in December. Despite Ms. Wang’s lack of involvement in this conference, Chinese officials had expressed discontent with her coverage, which frequently touched upon sensitive topics for Beijing.

China’s actions align with its ongoing effort to isolate Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. In response, Taiwan views any diplomatic or media engagement with its leaders as encroachment on its sovereignty.

A statement issued online by Taiwan’s presidential spokeswoman, Kuo Ya-hui, emphasized that China’s pressure on media entities represented a threat to journalistic freedom and a disregard for the safety of reporters.

Ms. Kuo remarked, “China’s use of baseless pretexts and brutal methods to threaten the media and interfere with press freedom not only fails to improve its international image, but also highlights that China is currently a source of instability and a troublemaker.”

Since Ms. Wang began her role as a China correspondent for the paper in 2020, she has reported on the daily lives of ordinary Chinese citizens. Her coverage has included themes concerning censorship, China’s unpopular coronavirus management, and the expansion of state security.

In a retaliatory move, the Trump administration rescinded the visa of a U.S.-based journalist from Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency. Experts often consider Xinhua to be a tool for propaganda. The New York Times clarified that it had no part in the expulsion of the Chinese journalist.

Ms. Kuo defended Mr. Lai’s engagement with international media as critical in communicating Taiwan’s stance and its dedication to regional security and peace. Additionally, Taiwan alleges Beijing has attempted to hinder Mr. Lai’s international travel, including obstructing flight paths.

For instance, in April, Mr. Lai was compelled to cancel a trip to Eswatini because three nations withdrew permits for his passage, purportedly due to Beijing’s influence. Nevertheless, Mr. Lai succeeded in making the journey in May.

Pei-Lin Wu contributed research.
David Pierson reports on Chinese foreign policy and global economic and cultural interactions. He has been a journalist for more than twenty years.