The Asian American Journalists Association stands in support of The New York Times reporter Vivian Wang, whose expulsion by the Chinese government in February was made public last Friday.
AAJA vehemently opposes restrictions that undermine press freedom and limit journalists’ ability to report. When journalists are restricted or expelled, audiences lose access to on-the-ground reporting, whether those journalists are U.S. correspondents covering China or international correspondents covering the United States.
The Chinese government expelled Times reporter Vivian Wang, reportedly after a Times event in New York featuring a virtual appearance by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, an event in which Wang had no involvement. Wang’s coverage of Chinese politics and society had reportedly drawn scrutiny from Chinese officials, including her reporting on ordinary people’s lives, censorship, the coronavirus pandemic, and China’s expanding security state.
Afterward, the U.S. government revoked the visa of an unnamed Chinese national working for Xinhua News in the United States, according to news reports.
The Chinese government’s expulsion of journalists is not new, but organizations like ours must continue to fight for a free press during this critical time, when misinformation and disinformation are so widely disseminated. AAJA urges the Chinese government to restore Wang’s ability to report from China so she can resume her work. AAJA also urges U.S. officials to avoid retaliatory actions that restrict journalists working in the United States.
The First Amendment enshrines freedom of the press as a constitutional right. The United States should uphold that principle by ensuring that journalists, regardless of nationality, can report freely and independently. Restricting journalists’ access to the United States in response to actions taken abroad risks weakening America’s longstanding commitment to press freedom.
As an American professional journalism nonprofit with a significant presence throughout Asia, AAJA supports press freedom and the safety of journalists worldwide. Journalists must be able to do their work without fear of being expelled, targeted, or used as leverage in diplomatic disputes. This principle is especially critical at a time when audiences around the world are seeking credible, independent information.
AAJA remains ready to be a resource for news outlets and correspondents in the U.S. and Asia Pacific.
– AAJA National Board
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