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This hinges on unnamed “people familiar” with alleged contacts. At this stage, with the Trump admin openly lying to increase US-China tensions, it’s impossible to take this seriously. Hard position for the reporters, but I would not have run as is. https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-warns-u-s-it-may-detain-americans-in-response-to-prosecutions-of-chinese-scholars-11602960959 1/
The risk that US people could be taken hostage in China over US targeting of Chinese in the US is real. I just can’t depend on this sourcing for info about that risk. Nonpolitical public servants yes, but anons that might be leaking for Pompeo or Trump, zero credibility. 2/
Maybe the writers and editors have reason to trust the sources, but that’s not enough in this era. Readers need more info about official sources when the president is a major disinformation actor. “According to internal correspondence seen by the WSJ” might do it, just barely. 3/
This matter is of course of great importance. The ongoing detention and isolation of two Canadians over a US case against a Huawei exec, plus the HK Nat Sec Law, have already made many reluctant to travel to China. US targeting of Chinese researchers has acted the other way. 4/
