India expelled three Chinese journalists who were working with Xinhua, China’s official state-run press agency after intelligence agencies raised certain "concerns."
According to a report in The Times of India, the move comes after intelligence agencies found that they were impersonating other persons and trying to gain access to restricted places under false identities.
These reports resulted in authorities revoking their visas. Xinhua's bureau chief Wu Qiang, who was residing in Delhi and his other two colleagues Lu Tang and She Yonggang, who were staying in Mumbai, have been asked to leave India by July 31, the report said quoting sources.
Notably, Wu has been residing in Delhi for the last six years on extended visa, while his two colleagues were also granted visa extensions in the past, the report said. This is possibly the first time that an extension of visas has been turned down.
As the main mouthpiece of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, it wields considerable influence in China.
Xinhua is believed to have acknowledged the events, however, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has so far not offered any comment on the situation.
The move to not renew the visas of Chinese journalists comes amid heightened tensions at the border and Beijing's decision to block India's membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
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