Taiwan’s President Criticizes China Over Journalist Expulsion

A spokeswoman for Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, has accused Beijing of using unfounded reasons to expel a New York Times reporter. This action followed Mr. Lai’s virtual appearance at a Times DealBook summit in New York last December.

The reporter, Vivian Wang, was based in Beijing but expelled in February. She had no involvement in the DealBook conference, an event featuring top executives and politicians. Chinese officials had long been displeased with Ms. Wang’s reporting, which often touched on topics considered sensitive by Beijing.

China’s efforts to limit Taiwan—a self-governed island claimed by Beijing as its own—are evident in its attempts to distance Taiwan’s leaders from any global engagement.

In an online statement, Taiwan’s presidential spokeswoman, Kuo Ya-hui, stressed that China’s pressure on media outlets not to cooperate with Mr. Lai presents risks to press freedom and journalist safety. Ms. Kuo declared, “China’s deployment of baseless pretexts and harsh tactics to intimidate media and meddle with press freedom not only tarnishes its international image, but also underscores China as a source of instability.”

Ms. Wang, a correspondent in China since 2020, primarily reported on the everyday lives of Chinese citizens, the challenges of censorship, Beijing’s contested COVID-19 response, and the broader reach of China’s security measures.

In response to these tensions, the Trump administration revoked the visa of a U.S.-based journalist for the Chinese state news agency, Xinhua. The New York Times clarified that it had no involvement in the expulsion of the Chinese reporter.

Ms. Kuo defended Mr. Lai’s international media interviews, citing these as opportunities to “clarify the nation’s stance, share democratic insights, and reiterate the commitment to regional peace and security.”

In attempts to isolate Mr. Lai, Beijing also moved to hinder the Taiwanese leader’s international travels. In April, Mr. Lai had to cancel a trip to Eswatini after three countries reportedly barred his transit due to Beijing’s pressure. He managed to reschedule and complete the trip in May.

Research was contributed by Pei-Lin Wu. David Pierson reports on China’s foreign policy and its global economic and cultural interactions, drawing on over two decades of journalism experience.