TAIPEI — Taiwan’s presidential office denounced China on Sunday after the New York Times reported that one of its reporters was expelled from the mainland following the paper’s video interview with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. Beijing regards democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and labels Lai a “separatist,” while Lai insists Taiwan’s future is for its people to decide.
The New York Times said reporter Vivian Wang was expelled in February; Chinese officials reportedly pointed to the outlet’s DealBook summit interview with Lai in December, though the paper said Wang did not participate in that interview. Taiwan presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo called Lai’s interviews routine and accused China of using “groundless pretexts and crude methods” that undermine press freedom and highlight Beijing as a source of instability.
Neither China’s foreign ministry nor the U.S. State Department immediately commented. Wang, who previously covered censorship and Beijing’s COVID response from within China, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kuo said Taiwan “will not be silenced by oppression” and will continue to present its position internationally “in a steady and responsible manner.” Taipei has accused Beijing of increasing “transnational repression,” including sanctions on Taiwanese officials despite lacking legal jurisdiction over the island. Foreign journalists in China typically receive one-year visas that can be revoked at any time; Beijing expelled more than a dozen U.S. outlet journalists in 2020 amid reciprocal diplomatic measures between the two countries.