BEIJING: China has banned the BBC World News television channel in a diplomatic fight with Britain after British regulators revoked the license of state-owned Chinese broadcaster CGTN. The United States on Thursday condemned this move of China. 

During a press briefing,  Ned price said, "We absolutely condemn the People Republic of China's (PRC) decision to ban BBC World News. The PRC maintains one of the most controlled, most oppressive, least free information spaces in the world. It is troubling that the PRC restricts outlets and platforms from operating freely in China." He further added: "Beijing's leaders use free and open media environments overseas to promote misinformation. We call on PRC and other nations with authoritarian controls over their population to allow their full access to the internet and media." He further asserted that media freedom is an important right and is key to ensuring that an informed citizenry can share their ideas freely among themselves and their leaders.

The Chinese government has criticized BBC reports about the corona pandemic in China and about allegations of forced labour and sexual abuse in the Xinjiang region, home to the Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups. 

Earlier, Britain’s communications watchdog, Ofcom, revoked the license for China’s English-language satellite news channel,  CGTN on Feb. 4. It cited links to China’s ruling Communist Party among the reasons.

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