Media row heats up between US, China

A recent U.S. move to restrict Chinese media organizations in the country triggered a scathing response from Beijing on Tuesday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters that the U.S. move to cut the number of Chinese journalists allowed to work in the country "would seriously harm ties between the two countries," according to the daily South China Morning Post.

"China reserves the right to take counter measures," he added.

The U.S. announced personnel restrictions on Monday on five Chinese media organizations. Last week, Washington said such organizations amounted to "propaganda arms of the Chinese government."

There are around 160 Chinese nationals working for these media houses in the U.S and the new restrictions are set to be implemented starting March 13.

Zhao accused Washington of conducting "political oppression" against Chinese press.

The new U.S. measures may lead to a decrease in the number of Chinese employees working in the U.S.

The new "personnel cap" imposed by the U.S. State Department apply to China's state news agency Xinhua, China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Radio International, China Daily and Haitian Development USA.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry maintained that the move gave China a "right to take further action."

Hua Chunying, information chief of the Foreign Ministry, took to Twitter to condemn the U.S. State Department move: "@StateDept We condemn US 'personnel cap' on Chinese media—de-facto expulsion. Another step of political oppression and evidence of hypocrisy in US freedom of press. Prejudice and exclusion against Chinese media."

Hua noted that 29 U.S. media agencies operated in China -- 20 more than Chinese media groups in the U.S. -- and that their employees were allowed multiple-entry visas, as opposed to single entrances allowed by the U.S.

"21 Chinese journalists denied visas since last year. Now the US kicked off the game, let's play," she added.

Under the new U.S. policy, Chinese media houses must "notify the U.S. [government] by Friday of which Chinese employees they will keep in the US."