US cuts foreign journalist visas to 240 days, China to 90
Why it matters: The rule takes effect in 60 days, and Beijing warned it could retaliate as press groups condemned the move.
The Trump administration moved to sharply shorten visas for foreign journalists in the United States, capping most at 240 days and Chinese journalists at 90 days. The Department of Homeland Security said it will end the long-standing “duration of status” system for journalists and replace it with fixed stays that can be extended. The agency argued the change is needed to improve oversight and vetting of visa holders. China warned of reciprocal countermeasures, raising the risk of fresh friction in already tense US-China relations. Press freedom groups, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, blasted the policy, saying repeated renewals could disrupt reporting and pressure journalists to avoid angering the administration.