Taiwan Criticizes China for Expelling New York Times Reporter

A spokeswoman for Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, criticized the actions of Beijing after a New York Times reporter was expelled from China. This move followed Mr. Lai’s video appearance at a Times DealBook summit in New York. The reporter, Vivian Wang, based in Beijing, was expelled in February. Wang was not part of the DealBook event, which features prominent figures annually.

Chinese officials have repeatedly criticized Wang’s reporting, which often covered topics sensitive to Beijing. Meanwhile, China continues to isolate Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing sees as its territory, considering interactions with Taiwan’s leaders as a sovereignty breach.

In an online statement, Kuo Ya-hui, Taiwan’s presidential spokeswoman, condemned China’s actions as a threat to press freedom and journalist safety. She asserted, “China’s use of baseless pretexts and brutal methods to threaten the media and interfere with press freedom not only fails to improve its international image, but also highlights that China is currently a source of instability and a troublemaker.”

Wang, reporting from China since 2020, focused on the lives of ordinary people and challenges like censorship, Beijing’s response to the pandemic, and China’s security state expansion. This expulsion adds to the pattern of Beijing’s crackdown on foreign correspondents challenging its narratives.

As part of a diplomatic response, the Trump administration revoked the visa of a U.S.-based journalist from the Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, seen by experts as propaganda. A New York Times spokesperson mentioned the paper’s non-involvement in the Chinese journalist’s expulsion.

Kuo defended Lai’s media engagements as efforts to explain Taiwan’s position, share democratic experiences, and express a commitment to regional peace and security. Beijing has attempted to limit Lai’s international flights, pressuring other nations. In April, Lai had to cancel a trip to Eswatini after three countries refused airspace access due to Beijing’s influence. He completed the journey in May.

Pei-Lin Wu contributed research to this report. David Pierson, covering Chinese foreign policy and international engagement, has over two decades of journalistic experience.