Working conditions for foreign correspondents in China worsened last year, with journalists reporting being beaten, detained and harassed, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

Almost half of more than 100 correspondents were subjected to some form of interference in 2017 while trying to gather information, according to the report by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China.

Twenty-three percent said they were physically obstructed from accessing a location and eight percent said they were manhandled or beaten.

BBC reporter Matthew Goddard told the FCCC that unknown individuals tried to smash his camera equipment after he refused to hand over footage as well as "physically punched" him.

The FCCC said the results "provide strong evidence to suggest that, from an already very low baseline, reporting conditions are getting worse".

Reporting grew more difficult in many areas, but particularly in the vast northwestern region of Xinjiang, the homeland of the Uighurs -- a mostly Muslim ethnic minority experiencing Chinese cultural and religious repression.

Seventy-three percent of respondents who travelled to Xinjiang in 2017 were told by officials that reporting was banned or restricted, compared with 42 percent in 2016.

"I was detained in Xinjiang numerous times, in pretty much every city, on the train. I was interrogated for 11 hours and was not permitted to sleep for two nights," the report cited a journalist from an American news organisation as saying.

Chinese authorities say the country has a basic policy of "opening up to the outside world" including protecting the rights of foreign journalists, who may interview anyone who gives prior consent.

But correspondents reported growing pressure by Chinese officials.

The survey found that authorities stepped up the threat of not renewing journalist visas to try to convince media outlets to write more favourable reports.

Five international news organisations experienced visa difficulties that appeared related to their work. The problems included lengthy delays in visa approval, credentials issued with unusually short validity and outright rejection of accreditations.

Chinese diplomats overseas have also appeared to become more assertive in applying pressure on media headquarters, with 22 percent of respondents reporting pressure on their head offices in 2017, up from 19 percent in the previous survey.

Such activity has included critical public statements made by Chinese ambassadors and embassies - including accusations that reports are "fabricated news" and requests to delete articles.

At a regular press briefing Tuesday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "I very much resent some of the shadowy accusations made in the report."

She invited those present to indicate whether they agreed with its findings.

When there was no response, Hua said the FCCC report "cannot possibly represent the true viewpoints of China's 600 or so foreign correspondents".

Related Links
Global Trade News

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

British PM to visit China as Brexit looms
Beijing (AFP) Jan 25, 2018
British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Beijing next week, China said Thursday, as her country looks to bolster trade links ahead of its departure from the European Union. The relationship between the two countries has grown in importance as London contemplates its economic future after it officially leaves the EU in March 2019. May will be in China from January 31 to February 2 in what the Chinese foreign ministry touted as a "historical visit". "We attach great importance to our rela ... read more