China expels NYT reporter over interview with Taiwan president

China has expelled a New York Times journalist from the country over an interview the US-based newspaper conducted with Taiwan's president, as Beijing ramps up its campaign to isolate the self-ruled island on the world stage.

Reporter Vivian Wang was ordered to leave China in Feb, the NYT reported, calling it the latest example of Beijing's growing pressure on foreign correspondents. Chinese officials said the decision was a response to an NYT interview of Lai Ching-te in Dec that was conducted by Andrew Ross Sorkin, according to the newspaper.

Wang, who has worked in Beijing for the newspaper since 2022, wasn't involved in that coverage. Lai's interview was conducted via video link at an NYT summit in New York. The Trump administration revoked the visa of a US-based Chinese state media journalist in retaliation, said the NYT, adding it didn't request the tit-for-tat move.

Chinese officials had been complaining about Wang's coverage for months, according to the NYT, which highlighted her reporting on sensitive matters such as censorship, Beijing's handling of the Covid pandemic and expansion of state surveillance. The episode appears to show Beijing is drawing a new red line in its bid to silence Lai, whom it has branded a "separatist" and troublemaker.

China's foreign ministry didn't reply to a request for comment made outside working hours. The US state department also didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.

(This is a Bloomberg story)
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