The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

China expels American journalists from three major U.S. newspapers

ChinaRSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

China ordered American correspondents for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post to leave the country, in a reciprocal response to the Trump administration capping the number of Chinese state-media employees allowed in the United States, which itself followed China's earlier expulsion of three Journal reporters over an opinion headline.1

What happened

In February 2020, after The Wall Street Journal published an opinion column China's government objected to, Beijing revoked the press credentials of three Journal reporters based in China. On March 2, 2020, the Trump administration capped the number of Chinese state-media employees allowed to work in the United States at 100, down from about 160. On March 17, 2020, China's foreign ministry announced it would require American journalists working for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post whose press cards were due to expire that year to leave the country, and said they would not be allowed to work as journalists in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau. China's foreign ministry called the move "entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures" against what it described as American measures aimed exclusively at Chinese media organizations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he regretted China's decision to further limit free press operations worldwide.123

What reason was given

Stated justification

China's foreign ministry described the expulsions as "entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures," saying "what the US has done is exclusively targeting Chinese media organizations, and hence driven by a Cold War mentality."2

What changed for reporting

American correspondents for three of the country's largest newspapers lost their accreditation to report from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau at the outset of the global coronavirus pandemic, cutting into independent Western reporting from China during a major global story.123

Timeline

2020

17 March 2020
China expels American journalists from three major U.S. newspapers

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsenforcedForeign ministry
Xi JinpingorderedPresident of China

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
The New York Timesoutletaffected
The Wall Street Journaloutletaffected

Sources

  1. China expels journalists from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington PostCNBC, 2020-03-17, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. China's foreign ministry said American journalists would not be allowed to continue working in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau.They will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People's Republic of China, including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.China expels journalists from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, CNBC, 2020-03-17.Claim 478, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. China's foreign ministry described the expulsions as necessary and reciprocal countermeasures against U.S. restrictions on Chinese media.entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasuresChina expels journalists from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, CNBC, 2020-03-17.Claim 479, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. Secretary of State Pompeo said he regretted China's decision to further limit free press operations.I regret China's decision to further foreclose the world's ability to conduct free press operations.China expels journalists from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, CNBC, 2020-03-17.Claim 480, checked 2026-09-22.