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RSF Urges China to Reverse Decision Expelling Wall Street Journal Reporters

Joyce Huang

   Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Friday urged China to call off its
   decision to expel three Beijing-based Wall Street Journal reporters
   after authorities there denounced an opinion piece the New York-based
   newspaper published as "racially discriminatory."

   The triple expulsion came one day after the U.S. government listed five
   U.S.-based Chinese state media outlets as foreign embassies because
   they work as mouthpieces for the Chinese government's propaganda
   efforts.

   Critics say China's move constitutes a serious violation of press and
   speech freedom while sending a chilling effect among journalists who
   still work there.

   And it may also end up hurting China's own image and fueling anti-China
   sentiments in the world, the critics add.

   Not justifiable

   "This is a decision that absolutely cannot be justified. The three
   journalists expelled by China are in no way responsible for the opinion
   piece. '¦ And therefore, there's no reason at all why they should be
   punished for this," said CĂ©dric Alviani, head of RSF's East Asia
   bureau in Taipei.

   The triple expulsion was announced Wednesday by foreign ministry
   spokesman Geng Shuang, who said the Journal's op-ed, titled "China is
   the real sick man of Asia," carried a "racially discriminatory" and
   "sensational" headline.

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