On February 26, 2020, Director-General of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying met with the principal official of the United States (US) Embassy in China, lodging stern representations on US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s improper remarks on the Chinese side’s response to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article with an insulting headline and the remarks of a spokesperson for National Security Council of the White House on taking measures against Chinese journalists based in the US.

Hua Chunying noted, WSJ has made serious mistakes and should therefore assume responsibility. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, under the pretext of free speech, supported the serious mistakes of WSJ, wantonly commented on the Chinese side’s battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and refused to get the facts straight. This is groundless. And his claim of retaliation for Chinese journalists based in the US is even more unacceptable.

Hua Chunying stressed, in fact, it is the US side’s unreasonable offence and provocation that comes first. The Chinese side defends itself legitimately afterwards. In recent years, the US side has adopted various restrictions on Chinese news organizations in the US, while Chinese journalists based in the US have followed professional integrity and reported the US in an objective manner. If the US side keeps harassing and imposing restrictions on China’s news agencies based in the US, the Chinese side will surely take further actions.