China-US relations: Beijing slams Washington for classing media firms as foreign missions
- ‘Action taken by the US … based on Cold War mentality,’ foreign ministry says
- Comments come after US deems six organisations as being ‘substantially or effectively controlled’ by Beijing
“The action taken by the US side against Chinese media is based on Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on Thursday.
“It has seriously damaged the reputation and image of the Chinese media and severely affected [their] normal operations. It has also exposed the hypocrisy of the US in claiming support for the free press,” he said.
“This is the latest move of political oppression … against the Chinese media and journalists operating in the US.”
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Beijing vows retaliation after US labels more Chinese media outlets as foreign missions
If Washington failed to rescind the ruling, China would make a “necessary and fitting response”, Zhao said, without elaborating on what form that might take.