The US State Department put six media outlets on the list of Chinese government agencies, forcing their employees to register as foreign envoys.

During a press conference at the State Department on October 21, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained the decision to ensure the American people could distinguish between "free press" and "propaganda" news.

Accordingly, the US branches of 6 Chinese media agencies including Yicai Global, Jiefang Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Social Sciences in China Press, Beijing Review and Economic Daily are considered as Chinese government agencies.

Any changes in the employees of these agencies must also be reported to the US government and they must obtain permission before buying or leasing real estate.

The US State Department earlier this year made a similar decision with nine other Chinese media outlets, including top Beijing news outlets such as the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, China Global Television Network.

US-China relations have deteriorated in recent months as the two countries continue to contradict trade, human rights and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Trump administration this year also reduced the number of Chinese state media correspondents permanently residing in the country from 160 to 100. China responded by expelling resident reporters working for the New York Times, Wall

In the latest announcement, Secretary of State Pompeo said the Trump administration would not put any restrictions on content that the media could publish in the United States.

The new US decision targets less popular publications than before.