China has reportedly asked the sole remaining Indian reporter in Beijing, representing Indian news agency PTI, to leave the country, according to a report by Bloomberg on Monday.
This development comes after China had already barred two other Indian reporters, one from state-run Prasar Bharati and another from The Hindu, from returning earlier this year. Sutirtho Patranobis, a reporter from the Hindustan Times, was also recently instructed to depart from China.
The strained relationship between the two countries has been characterized by geopolitical tensions.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, claimed that the action against Indian journalists was in response to the alleged unfair and discriminatory treatment of Chinese reporters in India.
Mao cited restrictions imposed on Chinese journalists in India, including shortened visa validity and refusal to review and approve applications for Chinese journalists to be stationed in India.
In contrast, the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, stated that foreign journalists face no difficulties operating in India, with the freedom to hire local staff to assist in their reporting.
Bagchi highlighted the disparities, noting the restrictions Indian journalists face while traveling within China.
According to Bloomberg, the visa dispute between New Delhi and Beijing stemmed from Indian journalists hiring local assistants in China.
While India imposes no limitations on hiring locals for reporting assistance, Beijing had imposed a cap of three individuals at a time, who must be selected from a pool provided by Chinese authorities.
The eviction of accredited journalists from both China and India marks another flashpoint in the strained relationship between the two neighboring nations since the clash between their militaries in Galwan Valley, eastern Ladakh, in June 2020.
Tensions have persisted with substantial military deployments and friction points, involving tens of thousands of troops, artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.
