'Beijing May Target US Reporters In HK To Retaliate'

China will take retaliatory measures if all Chinese journalists based in the United States are forced to leave the country, including targeting US journalists in Hong Kong, Global Times Editor in Chief Hu Xijin said on Tuesday.

"Given that the US side hasn't renewed visa of Chinese journalists, Chinese side has prepared for the worst scenario that all Chinese journalists have to leave the US," Hu said on Twitter.

"If that's the case, Chinese side will retaliate, including targeting US journalists based in HK."

The Global Times newspaper is published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party.

The United States limited visas for Chinese journalists in the country to 90 days, with an option for extension, effective May 11.

It was not immediately clear how many Chinese journalists have been affected or how many may be required to leave if their visas are not extended.

The two countries have already exchanged several tit-for-tat actions involving journalists in recent months, with the US designating multiple Chinese state or Communist Party-backed media as foreign embassies.

China has also expelled US journalists for three US newspapers – New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post – this year and has threatened to match any further actions by the US against Chinese journalists. (Reuters)