Human Rights, Justice & Society
China warns of response to US limits on journalist stays
China warned Friday that it could take countermeasures after Washington finalized rules shortening how long journalists can stay in the United States, with Chinese nationals facing the strictest limits.
Under the change, which could take effect as soon as September, foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days, or about eight months. They could apply for extensions of similar length.
Chinese nationals would be limited to 90-day stays, with possible 90-day extensions, under rules proposed by the US Department of Homeland Security.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China firmly opposed what he called discriminatory US actions targeting specific countries. He demanded that the United States immediately reverse its policies affecting Chinese journalists and said China reserved the right to take reciprocal countermeasures. He did not give details on what those measures could be.
The new US visa limits are part of a broader immigration crackdown that Trump has made central to his presidency, including enforcement operations in major cities and new limits on legal pathways to citizenship.
Media rights groups criticized the rules. Reporters Without Borders told AFP on Thursday that it was outraged by the limitations.
The new rules are subject to review by the Republican-led Congress.
Update
China warned it could take countermeasures in response to the US stay limits for journalists.
Beijing said it opposed what it called discriminatory US actions targeting specific countries.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian demanded that the United States undo the policies affecting Chinese journalists.
Reporters Without Borders told AFP it was outraged by the limitations.
The rules are subject to review by the Republican-led Congress.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 08:31:20 UTC.
Update
Foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days, with possible extensions of similar length.
Chinese nationals would be limited to 90-day stays, with possible 90-day extensions.
Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the rules.
The Department of Homeland Security received close to 22,000 public comments after proposing the rules in August 2025 and finalized them largely unchanged.
DHS said the open-ended system for students had undermined its ability to monitor visa holders.
Official data cited in the source says the United States hosted more than 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 academic year and that they contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.
Higher education groups, media organizations and international stakeholders had urged changes to the proposal, but DHS rejected several requests.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 July 2026 at 21:21:37 UTC.
Update
The administration finalized the rules largely unchanged after receiving close to 22,000 public comments.
DHS said the previous open-ended student system had undermined its ability to monitor visa holders and alleged some foreign students were staying as "forever students."
Official data cited in the source says the United States hosted more than 1.1 million international students in 2023-24 and that they contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.
Higher education groups and media-related stakeholders objected to parts of the proposal, and DHS rejected several proposals involving journalists.
The rule is subject to review by the Republican-led Congress.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 July 2026 at 15:31:24 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
China did not specify what countermeasures it might take.
The rules could take effect as soon as September but are still subject to congressional review.
Source
AFP news report published on .