China Responds to U.S. Visa Policy Changes for Journalists

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on July 17, 2026, that it will shorten visa durations for foreign journalists, specifically limiting Chinese journalists to 90 days and other foreign journalists to 240 days. This new rule will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian criticized the U.S. for what he termed 'discriminatory policies' and stated that China reserves the right to implement reciprocal measures. Organizations advocating for press freedom, such as Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, also condemned the new visa policy, arguing it restricts international journalists' ability to operate in the U.S. The policy change revives a previous conflict regarding journalist visas that began during the Trump administration, which had previously imposed restrictions on Chinese journalists amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China. The Biden administration had eased these restrictions, allowing Chinese journalists to remain in the U.S. for up to a year. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the previous visa system posed national security risks.