China firmly opposes the “suppression” of ​a reporter for the official Xinhua news ‌agency who is based in the ​United States (U.S.), the Foreign Ministry ⁠said on Monday (June 1, 2026).

The U.S. is using the pretext of so-called reciprocity to “politically suppress” the ‌Xinhua reporter, who is working there legally, Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian ‌told a regular press conference, without ‌giving ⁠details.

“The facts and circumstances surrounding ⁠media issues between China and the U.S. are crystal-clear: the root cause lies in the U.S. ​side’s unilateral ‌provocation and politicisation of media matters,” said Mr. Lin.

The U.S. embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request ‌for comment.

Xinhua, the state-run Chinese ​news agency, did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

On ⁠Friday (May 29, 2026), the New York Times said one of its reporters, Vivian Wang, had ‌been expelled from China this year after the newspaper’s interview with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

The paper cited an explanation from Chinese officials that it was in response to its DealBook ‌summit’s December video interview with Mr. Lai, and said ​Mr. Wang did not take part.

Mr. Wang did not respond to a ⁠Reuters request for comment.

China views democratically governed ⁠Taiwan as its own territory and Mr. Lai as a “separatist.” He rejects ‌Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.