India Evicts Three Chinese Journos, China Warns of Repercussions

Chinese state media warns of ‘serious consequences’ if the move is in retaliation for blocking India’s NSG bid.

Wu Qiang at the Taj Mahal. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Wu Qiang)

Serious consequences await India if it has expelled three Chinese journalists because Beijing did not support its bid for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), China’s state media said on Sunday.

If New Delhi is really taking revenge due to the NSG membership issue, there will be serious consequences. On the visa issue this time, we should take actions to display our reaction. We at least should make a few Indians feel Chinese visas are also not easy to get.

<i>Global Times</i>

After intelligence agencies raised concerns of spying, India decided to expel three senior Chinese journalists working with Chinese official news agency Xinhua.

Wu Qiang, the bureau chief of Xinhua, along with his two Mumbai-based colleagues Lu Tang and She Yonggang were asked to leave the country by 31 July.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Lu Tang)

No official reason was given for the rejection of the visa renewals. Some Indian media claimed that the three journalists are suspected of impersonating other people to access several restricted departments in Delhi and Mumbai with fake names. There were also reports attributing it to the journalists’ meeting with exiled Tibetan activists.

The move came after intel issued an alert about the three for allegedly indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief and visiting restricted regions and services.

Lu Tang graduated in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

(Source: Global Times)