China condemns WSJ editorial as 'racist'

China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said it didn't matter that three expelled journalists had nothing to do with a Wall Street Journal editorial deemed racist by Beijing, and called on the paper to apologize.

"Why did they choose to publish an article that maliciously attacks and smears a country and nation? Why did they pick an obviously racist title?" said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China revoked the press credentials of three reporters for The Journal last Wednesday over a headline on an opinion column that called the country the "Real Sick Man of Asia."

The journalists, Deputy Bureau Chief Josh Chin and reporter Chao Deng, who are both Americans, and reporter Philip Wen, an Australian, were not involved in the publication of the column.

Late last week, 53 reporters and editors at The Journal sent a letter to top executives criticizing the title and opinion section of the paper, including some staff in the outlet's Beijing bureau.

But Zhao brushed aside the letter, reiterating demands for the paper to apologize.

"I don't think this is an overreaction", Zhao said, "China reserves the right to take further measures against this newspaper."

The expulsions came after the Trump administration on Tuesday designated five state-run Chinese news outlets that operate in the United States as "foreign missions," requiring them to register their properties and employees in the US.

China has in recent years refused to issue or renew credentials for foreign journalists, but this is the first time in decades that it has actually revoked their documents, effectively expelling them from the country.

Also Monday, Zhao said Australia's plan to relax a virus travel ban and accept 760 Chinese high school students was "a step in the right direction" but "far from enough", pointing out roughly 100,000 Chinese students have been affected by the restrictions.

Zhao said he hoped Australia would instead "remove unreasonable travel restrictions as soon as possible".

Australia has barred non-Australians who have travelled through China since February 1.

China has repeatedly protested travel bans, saying that it is not in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization.