BEIJING (Reuters)-Beijing has urged India to find a middle ground in the ongoing dispute over journalists working in each other’s countries. The matter came to light after China accused India of ill-treatment of its reporters, while an Indian journalist was asked to leave China.
The media row is the latest development to highlight strained relations between the two Asian neighbors since tensions escalated in mid-2020, leading to a clash on their disputed Himalayan border that claimed 24 lives.
During a news briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, “Chinese journalists in India have faced unfair and discriminatory treatment in recent years.” He further emphasized the need for India to issue visas to Chinese journalists, remove unreasonable restrictions and create a conducive environment for media exchange.
China’s decision not to renew the visas of the last two Indian journalists stationed there was in response to India taking similar action against the two remaining Chinese state media journalists in India this month. According to sources familiar with the matter, one of the Indian reporters associated with the Hindustan Times left for China on Sunday because his visa had expired. The last Indian journalist from the Press Trust of India news agency is expected to leave later this month when his visa expires.
India had four reporters based in China this year, but two were unable to return after their visas were frozen in April. As a result, India currently lacks a media presence in the world’s second largest economy.
Wang highlighted that India has not approved new visas for Chinese journalists since 2020, reducing the number of Chinese journalists in India from 14 to just one. He expressed disappointment at India’s lack of progress and stressed China’s willingness to engage in communication based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, urging India.
In response to the situation, India’s foreign ministry said earlier this month that it hoped China would allow Indian journalists to work in China. He stressed that India allows all foreign journalists to work within its borders.
The media conflict emphasizes the need for both countries to find common ground and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their differences. Mutual cooperation and respect are crucial to resolving ongoing tensions between China and India and fostering a more positive environment for media exchange.
