The New York Times Calls for Reinstatement of China Correspondent

The Chinese government's decision to expel Vivian Wang is wrong. Her expulsion will make it even harder for our global audience to get accurate, independent and in-depth reporting about the world's second largest economy at a critical time.

Vivian is one of the most respected journalists covering China today. Her expulsion follows a campaign of harassment and threats directed at her over professional, accurate and even-handed reporting on the expansion of the Chinese security apparatus and its handling of the Covid epidemic.

It also reflects a drastic reduction in the ability of reporters from America's leading news organizations to live in and report on China. The number of correspondents from American media outlets allowed to work in China has now fallen to an alarmingly low level, at a time when the need for people everywhere to understand China is greater than ever.

The New York Times has been reporting on China since the 1850s, and we remain committed to covering the country fully and fairly with correspondents based in China and around the region. We urge the governments of both the United States and China to reverse this deterioration in journalist access and to make a freer flow of information a high priority in the U.S.-China relationship.