No excuse for Western media to run unchecked in China

Journalism is well respected in China and journalists are sometimes dubbed "uncrowned kings". Yet, even so, there is no such thing as anarchy for them in China, nor is there in other countries including Western nations.

In a tone saturated with self-righteousness and superiority, an editorial carried Wednesday by the New York Times criticized China's visa restrictions on its correspondents who want to work in China, and groundlessly placed the blame on Beijing's ability to tolerate "unfavorable or controversial news coverage".

The newspaper also claimed that it has no intention "to alter its coverage to meet the demands of any government".

As justifiable as it has tried to sound, the editorial has unfortunately missed the key point of the issue.

It is understandable that a Western media outlet might see China, which has a different social system and is on a different stage of development in comparison with the West, from completely disparate perspectives. But that doesn't mean that they can ignore the basic truth and confuse right with wrong.

The NY Times, one of the world's influential newspapers and a typical Western media organization, often takes an unfairly hardline stance against China, with many of its news coverages defying China's national interests or the common will of the Chinese people.

This is quite evident from the very fact that the NY Times reports and comments on China-related issues have repeatedly drawn backlash from the Chinese public.

China's opening-up and reform process over the past decades since 1978 has substantially facilitated the easing of rules for foreign media and offered them greater convenience.

Under Beijing's open policy on foreign media, overseas journalists are welcomed to work in China and are being granted various opportunities to conduct coverage in the country.

Not only are they provided with better professional services, but their legitimate rights and interests are also protected in accordance with the law.

However, respecting China's national conditions and abiding by China's laws, among others, should be a bottom line.

China's journalists working overseas also have been duly advised by the Chinese government to comply with rules and regulations of the country or the region where they work, including the United States.

There is no excuse for a foreign news organization which wishes to operate normally in China to ask for double standards and run unchecked in anarchy.

It is highly advisable for certain Western media to do some self-examination homework before pointing fingers at others.