China urges US to protect lawful rights, interests of Chinese journalists: spokesperson

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China urges the U.S. to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese journalists in the U.S., a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the Trump administration's decision to cut visa duration for journalists, which would include reporters from China.

Noting that the U.S. restrictions on people-to-people exchanges do not serve any party's interests, Lin said that China firmly rejects the discriminatory country-specific action taken by the United States.

The new U.S. rule seriously violates the three-point consensus between China and the U.S. on media issues reached in 2021, Lin said, adding that it seriously affects Chinese media's normal work in the United States.

"China reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures," Lin said.