New Delhi: India on Friday expressed hope that Beijing would facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists working and reporting from China, amid reports that the two countries have expelled nearly all of each other’s journalists in recent weeks.

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

However, he pointed out that “Indian journalists in China have been operating with certain difficulties, such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists.”

“As you know, foreign media can and do freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus in India. In addition, Indian journalists also face several restrictions while getting access and travelling locally.”

“Indian side supports and facilitates foreign journalists in India, I am sure you can attest to it. At the same time, there should be no deviations from normal journalistic behaviour and activities, or from the provisions governing Journalist visas,” the spokesperson pointed out, in an apparent reference to reports that the Chinese journalists may have been indulging in non-journalistic activities flagged by Indian security agencies.

“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 added.

The Indian response comes amid a report by the Wall Street Journal that said that the two countries have begun freezing out each other’s journalists.

According to the report, India had asked a Chinese journalist with the Xinhua News Agency to leave the country by March 31, and the Chinese side responded by freezing the visas of three Indian journalists.

According to the Wall Street Journal, India also asked a reporter for another state media outlet – China Central Television – to leave.

On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a news briefing in Beijing that the Indian side had not renewed the visa of the “last Chinese journalist in the country”.

“The number of Chinese journalists stationed in India is about to drop to zero. Considering this, the Chinese side has no choice but to take appropriate counter-measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese media organisations,” she said.

Relations between the two neighbours have been frosty, especially following the dragging military stand-off at the Line of Actual Control.