Foreign Correspondents' Club of China: Pressure on Taiwan-related Reporting in China Intensifies

(CNA, Taipei, April 14) Foreign correspondents in China say they continue to face obstruction and increasing pressure during their reporting. Since the beginning of this year, this pressure has been particularly pronounced when covering news related to Taiwan.

According to the latest annual report released by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC), surveillance, intimidation, and ambiguous 'red lines' have become part of daily life for many foreign journalists working in China.

A Deutsche Welle report indicates that 94% of respondents believe China's news reporting environment usually or almost never meets international standards. Nearly two-thirds of the surveyed journalists reported being obstructed at least once by police or other government departments during interviews or investigations; 8% reported experiencing rough treatment or physical violence. Some journalists described being followed, questioned, or even asked to delete recorded footage.

The FCCC points out that it is becoming increasingly difficult for reporters to access sources. 77% of respondents said their sources had refused or canceled interviews because they were not allowed to speak with foreign media. Nearly one-third of respondents said their interviewees had been summoned, intimidated, or subjected to other forms of pressure by authorities after giving interviews.

The report highlights that reporting on Taiwan faces even greater pressure. One journalist, speaking anonymously, said that after publishing reports and interviews related to Taiwan, they were summoned twice by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the situation.

Denial of visa issuance is China's primary method of dealing with foreign journalists. The report cites the case of Vivian Wang, The New York Times' correspondent in China. According to The New York Times, Chinese authorities decided in February this year to expel Wang, citing that Taiwan's President Lai Qingde had participated via video in an event hosted by the newspaper.

However, Wang herself did not participate in the event. Subsequently, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Wang had violated regulations during her reporting activities, leading to the cancellation of her residence permit. (Edited by Zhu Jianling / Feng Zhao) 1150714

Stand with the facts. Every one of your donations is a force to safeguard press freedom.

Download the CNA 'First News' app to instantly stay updated with the latest news.

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, publicly transmitted, or otherwise used without authorization.