Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang

China revoked the press cards of three Beijing-based journalists from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday after the newspaper published an article with a "racist headline," which slandered China's efforts in fighting the coronavirus outbreak, and refused to correct its attitude and tender a formal apology over the issue.

Geng Shuang, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, made the announcement at an online press briefing on Wednesday, saying that China has lodged solemn representations to WSJ repeatedly and made clear China's stance, which includes a public apology and holding relevant people accountable.

However, WSJ has been shuffling responsibility ever since. It did not apologize nor punish the people involved.

Geng said that China deals with foreign journalists' affairs in accordance with the laws. Chinese people do not welcome media that shoot racist comments, or smear China on purpose, thus the authorities decided to revoke the credentials of three Beijing-based journalists from the Wall Street Journal.

The article, "China is the real sick man of Asia" by Bard College professor Walter Russell Mead, published on February 3, has sparked uproar in Chinese society. Many netizens said, "How could a world-renowned newspaper make such an intolerably racist headline?"

Some foreign readers also resorted to Twitter to express their anger against the headline. One user said that "Whoever at the WSJ crafted this click-bait headline went too far. Some editor at WSJ contributed to the racial stigmatization of China."

Global Times