China orders four US media outlets to disclose finances, staff

China on Wednesday ordered four US news outlets to disclose details on their staff and financial operations in the country within seven days, as a media row escalates between Washington and Beijing.

The Associated Press, United Press International, CBS and NPR must report the information -- as well as details of any real estate they hold in China -- in retaliation for Washington's crackdown this month on four Chinese state media outlets, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.