US to slap restrictions on more Chinese media outlets: report

At least four more Chinese media outlets are reportedly expected to be designated by the Trump administration as embassies of the Chinese government, resulting in restrictions on U.S. soil.

Three people familiar with the expected move by the State Department told Reuters that China Central Television (CCTV) and China News Service would be among the outlets designated as extensions of China’s government. The move would require employees working for those those outlets on U.S. soil to register with the State Department.

The top House Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), indicated his support for the move in a statement to Reuters.

“These are Chinese Communist Party propaganda outlets that peddle dangerous information to grow the Party’s power — not report the news,” he said.

In February, five Chinese media companies including China Global Television Network, China Radio International, and Xinhua News Agency were designated by the State Department as official government entities.

The State Department did not immediately return a request for confirmation from The Hill. The Trump administration has hammered Beijing on numerous issues in the past several weeks, including the passage of a security law affecting the territory of Hong Kong as well as China’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of spreading anti-Chinese sentiment around the world, and vowed retaliation for President Trump’s announcement last week that the U.S. would end a special trading relationship with Hong Kong.

“The announced measures severely interfere with China’s internal affairs, damage U.S.-China relations, and will harm both sides. China is firmly opposed to this,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

“Any words or actions by the U.S. that harm China’s interests will meet with China’s firm counterattack,” he continued.