Amid visa spat, China tells last Indian journalist to leave country

Amid the ongoing rift over visas between India and China, the last Indian journalist working in Beijing has been asked to leave the country by the end of June, as per an India Today report.

Citing a report by Reuters, the publication said, the Indian journalist associated with the news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) will leave this month when his visa expires.

Nearly two months ago, China informed two Indian journalists in Beijing that their visas had been "frozen".

China had said it was taking "counter-measures" in response to what it alleged was India's "unfair" treatment of Chinese journalists.

"All foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without any limitations or difficulties in reporting or doing media coverage," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

He was replying to questions on the issue during his weekly media briefing.

"We hope that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists working and reporting from China. The two sides continue to remain in touch regarding this issue," he said.

Bagchi said that Indian journalists in China have been operating with certain difficulties.