There are multiple possible factors for WSJ reporter expulsions: the racist headline that was officially cited, the US designating 5 state media outlets foreign agents, an ongoing effort to cull foreign media coverage in the country. But there's something else I'd note...
The CCP has pretty successfully shaped public opinion against what it routinely depicts as “biased” and “hostile” Western media. And with censorship, it can make sure most people can’t read and judge for themselves. foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/04/chi…
So kicking out “Western” journalists, especially when there’s a legitimately racist transgression by their paper that can be used to justify it, will usually win the CCP a lot more points domestically than it will take away.
Right now, more people than usual are looking to foreign media for information – either directly or via acquaintances – given the widely recognized coronavirus cover-ups and suspicion that domestic media isn't telling the whole story.
It may not be the main reason for the expulsions, but fanning nationalist anger at Wall Street Journal (and by tacit extension, undermining all “Western media”) then taking decisive action to punish it, might be a winning move for the CCP at the moment.
I've had friends in China recently message to ask what foreign media is saying about the situation who've never asked me anything like that before. Not a bad time to remind people that "Western media" (which happen to be covering coronavirus) are hostile anti-China instigators.
