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From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • China has warned of reciprocal countermeasures after the United States announced it would drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists.
  • The new U.S. rule reduces journalist visas to a maximum of 240 days, down from several years, with Chinese journalists facing only 90 days.
  • This policy change, aimed at better vetting visa holders, has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates who fear it will hinder international reporting and strain U.S.-China relations.

The United States' decision to significantly shorten visa durations for foreign journalists has prompted a strong warning from China, which has pledged reciprocal countermeasures. The new policy, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, will replace the previous "duration of status" system with fixed periods, limiting visas to 240 days for most foreign journalists and a mere 90 days for those from China.

We are outraged that the Trump administration has cruelly limited the duration of visas for foreign journalists from a period of up to five years to a fixed eight months.

— Reporters Without BordersAn advocacy group's statement reacting to the new U.S. visa policy for foreign journalists.

U.S. officials claim the change is necessary for better vetting of visa holders. However, press freedom organizations have voiced strong opposition. Reporters Without Borders condemned the move as "cruel" and stated it "destroys international journalists' ability to report from the U.S. and makes it extremely difficult for international outlets to operate here at all." The Committee to Protect Journalists labeled the policy "the behavior of a backsliding democracy."

This change destroys international journalists’ ability to report from the US and makes it extremely difficult for international outlets to operate here at all.

— Reporters Without BordersAn advocacy group's statement explaining the impact of the new U.S. visa policy.

The tighter restrictions, particularly for Chinese journalists, come at a time of already strained U.S.-China relations. While both leaders have expressed intentions to stabilize ties, this visa policy could introduce further friction. The rule is set to take effect 60 days after its publication, though Congress retains the rare power to reject it.

The relentless cycle of visa renewals restricts press freedom, as journalists will feel compelled to avoid drawing the administration’s ire, lest their applications be rejected.

— The Associated PressQuoting an advocacy group on the potential impact of the visa policy on press freedom.

Advocates argue that the constant cycle of visa renewals will compel journalists to avoid criticizing the administration, thereby restricting press freedom. The Department of Homeland Security, in its August 2025 proposal, cited the growing number of foreign journalists as a challenge to oversight, noting that similar fixed-period rules will also apply to students and other foreign visitors.

The new visa policy is the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech.

— Committee to Protect JournalistsA statement from the Committee to Protect Journalists criticizing the U.S. visa policy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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