China has expelled a New York Times journalist from the country over an interview the US-based newspaper conducted with Taiwan’s president, as Beijing intensifies its campaign to isolate the self-ruled island from the world stage.The New York Times reported that reporter Vivian Wang was ordered to leave China in February, calling it the latest example of Beijing’s increasing pressure on foreign reporters. Chinese officials said that the decision came in response to an interview conducted by The New York Times with Lai Cheng Te last December, conducted by Andrew Ross Sorkin, according to the newspaper.Wang, who has been working in Beijing for the newspaper since 2022, did not participate in that coverage.
Lai’s interview was conducted via video link at the New York Times Summit in New York. The Trump administration canceled the entry visa of a Chinese government media journalist residing in the United States in response, the New York Times said, adding that it had not requested this reciprocal step.Chinese officials have been complaining about Wang’s coverage for months, according to The New York Times, which has highlighted her reporting on sensitive matters such as censorship, Beijing’s handling of the Covid pandemic, and expanding state surveillance. This incident seems to show that Beijing is drawing a new red line in its attempt to silence Lai, whom it described as a “separatist” and a troublemaker.The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment submitted outside business hours. The US State Department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.(This is a Bloomberg story)