BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government says it did not expel a New York Times reporter who had to leave mainland China this week after he failed to obtain new press credentials.
China's Foreign Ministry said Friday a visa application for Chris Buckley — who recently was hired by the Times — has remained in limbo because his previous employer failed to undertake the proper procedure when he left that company.
Though Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying did not name the former employer, Buckley worked for the Reuters news agency until October. Reuters had no immediate comment.
The 45-year-old Australia flew to Hong Kong on Monday with his family amid increased pressure on foreign journalists by the Chinese government, which is concerned over media scrutiny of its top leaders.
