The threat was made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a briefing following the US decision to reclassify four organisations, including China Central Television, China News Service, the People's Daily, and the Global Times, as foreign missions rather than media outlets in the US, adding them to five others reclassified in February.

All nine Chinese state-run news organisations will be required to report details of their US-based staff and real estate transactions to the State Department. Their news reporting will not be restricted, officials said.

In response to the US measures to strictly control Chinese media, Beijing hit back in March by expelling US citizens working for three major newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.