BEIJING - China said on Friday it will not tolerate those who defend terrorism as French journalist Ursula Gauthier leaves China.

China will ensure the legal rights of foreign media organizations and journalists to cover China, but the Chinese government and people will not tolerate defense of terrorism in the name of freedom, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

Gauthier, a Beijing-based correspondent for French magazine L'Obs, was refused renewal of her press credential after blaming government policy in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for terrorist attacks in her reporting.

"We have noticed the reaction of the French public," Lu said, citing a report saying that more than half of French netizens surveyed voiced understanding and support for China's decision.

Lu said this indicates that most in the international community uphold justice and oppose double standards on terrorism.