China's Foreign Ministry warned of countermeasures in response to the U.S. new decision to tighten visa guidelines against Chinese journalists and urged the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes.

Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at Monday's daily briefing in Beijing, calling the new rule from Washington "an escalation of political suppression against Chinese media."

The U.S. last week issued a new rule limiting visas for Chinese reporters to a 90-day period, with the option for extension, which has taken into effect on Monday.

The spokesperson noted that the residential and working visas for most U.S. journalists are valid for one year, questioning the U.S.' claim that it is issuing equal countermeasures.

Instead, Zhao pointed out, such measures are not seeking "equality," it only reflects the U.S.' prejudice, discrimination and repulsion against Chinese media.

Zhao also recounted a list of discriminating actions that Washington has taken to expel 60 Chinese journalists from the U.S., and the earliest date can be traced back to December 2018, according to the Ministry. 

Those acts by the U.S. will significantly hinder Chinese journalists' normal reporting in the country as well as the cultural exchanges between these two countries, Zhao added.

(With input from Reuters)