China: Attacks On Press Freedom Intensify After The Coronavirus Outbreak

Location: China
Date: March 20, 2020

PHOTO: NYT

Beijing has taken some really problematic decisions in a bid to suppress freedom of the press in the country. The Chinese government has been secretive about the state of governance following the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan city, which led doctors-turned-whistle blowers, bloggers and citizen journalists to use alternatives for conveying news otherwise censored by the regime.

Initially, China downplayed the situation and resorted to silence doctors who continued to warn against the virus. It shut down online discussions and detained those who criticized government’s mismanagement following the outbreak. Chinese authorities then stifled freedom of the press. It revoked press credentials of three journalists - Chao Deng and her two male colleagues - working for the Washington Post, following their story titled ‘China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia’.

We are concerned that China has taken controversial decisions to brush stories of mishandling the coronavirus outbreak. Stifling press freedom has further exposed the country’s dictatorial approach towards controlling the public narrative.

China has since been in the news for its alleged involvement in the disappearance of two reporters from Wuhan. These citizen journalists - Fang Bin and Chen Qiushi - shared videos, photos and chilling stories from inside the quarantined city that had no connection with the rest of the country at the time. The rise in views of their posts online were a result of the content they shared showing escalation of the health crisis in China. As a result, the journalists were not seen or heard from again. Another citizen journalist Li Zehua also shared fears of being chased earlier in February and went missing soon after.

During times when China should have been more transparent about the outbreak, it chose to silence the voices that spoke truth to power. The country’s authoritarian and egotistical approach suppressed crucial information that could have contained the aggravation of the outbreak, which turned it into a global pandemic.

Ren Zhiqiang, a Chinese business tycoon, has also gone missing after he criticized President Xi Jinping’s governance regarding COVID-19. After news of the coronavirus situation improving began to circulate online, journalist Jacob Wang working for a state-run newspaper turned furious. He stated that the city was still in a state of crisis highlighting failures of the government.

In its latest move, Chinese authorities have ordered to expel and ban 13 American journalists working for three major US-based outlets - The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. The reverse ban has taken place after the feud between Chinese and American leaders over coronavirus. Beijing has deemed Washington’s decision of tightening rules on China’s state-run media in the US as the reason for this development. More journalists are finding alternatives to pass through the ruling Communist Party’s censors and sharing information with the rest of the world.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns China’s treatment of journalists in its country. Freedom of the press is crucial especially in a time of such crises. Chinese government owes it to its citizens and citizens around the world who have all been linked due to this crisis. We demand the provision of justice to all those who have been persecuted for conveying the truth.

Washington must also reconsider their decision of restricting Chinese journalists in the U.S. No journalist deserves to be victimized for doing their job and conveying news with the public. Both the U.S. and China need to bring an end to the fued, so that journalists in both countries can work to ensure a smooth flow of information.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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