Taiwan Criticizes China’s Expulsion of Journalist

The Taiwanese president’s spokeswoman accused Beijing of punishing journalists under “baseless pretexts.” She described China as a “troublemaker,” emphasizing that its actions threaten press freedom.

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president, faced international tension when China expelled New York Times reporter Vivian Wang. Ms. Wang was based in Beijing but was not involved in a Times DealBook summit in New York, where Mr. Lai appeared by video in December. Despite not participating in the conference, Ms. Wang’s reporting often covered sensitive topics in China, leading to her expulsion in February.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, opposing any engagement with Taiwanese leaders. In a statement online, Kuo Ya-hui, the president’s spokeswoman, highlighted the dangers China poses to journalists through intimidation tactics. “China’s actions not only fail to boost its global image but reveal its role as a source of instability,” she stated.

Ms. Wang had been reporting on issues like censorship, China’s pandemic response, and the expansion of the security state since 2020. Her expulsion is part of a broader crack down on foreign correspondents whose work challenges Chinese narratives.

This incident echoes prior diplomatic tensions. The Trump administration had previously revoked the visa of a U.S.-based Chinese journalist from Xinhua, China’s state news agency. A spokesperson for the New York Times confirmed the paper’s non-involvement in that expulsion.

Kuo defended Mr. Lai’s foreign interviews as efforts to explain Taiwan’s democratic position and commitment to regional peace. Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly tried to limit Mr. Lai’s international accessibility. In April, he had to cancel a visit to Eswatini after flight restrictions, seemingly due to Chinese pressure.

Mr. Lai successfully completed the trip in May.

David Pierson reports on Chinese foreign policy and China’s global interactions. He has been in journalism for over 20 years.