China daily asks foreign media to behave

Beijing, May 10 (IANS) A state-run Chinese newspaper Thursday asked the foreign media to take an "objective and balanced view" towards China, saying some journalists tend to be negative.

"We don't want to see any confrontations between the Chinese government and foreign journalists here in China," the English-language Global Times said in an opinion piece.

"Local authorities are more willing to cooperate with them, while foreign media should take an objective and balanced view toward the country.

"Foreign media should reflect on China's complexity, which is well-known to almost all foreigners in China," it said. "However, some media are only keen to show the wickedness of China to the world."

The commentary came after China refused to extend the press credentials and visa of Melissa Chan, the English correspondent of the news network Al-Jazeera in Beijing.

Beijing has also not allowed the channel to find someone to replace her. Al-Jazeera said its Beijing bureau was forced out of China.

Chinese authorities have given no reason for their action against Chan.

Global Times said that foreign media often discredited the country with a biased perspective.

"But the Chinese government takes a restrained attitude toward them..."

"Foreign journalists in China must abide by journalistic ethics. They have their values and reporting angles, but the bottom line is that they should not turn facts upside down."