By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi, Dec 8, 2008 : This damning document of 82 pages demonstrates China’s acceleration in violating its international commitments to freedoms of expression and opinion.Reporters Without Borders’ report reveals the unprecedented campaign of suppression by the Chinese regime against journalism and the right for information worldwide in recent years.
“If China continues its frantic racing backwards, Chinese citizens might lose hope to see press freedom established in their country,” Christophe Deloire, RSF Secretary General, says.He calls on democracies “to identify all appropriate strategies to dissuade Beijing regime from pursuing its oppressive policies and to support all Chinese citizens that love their country and want the right to information.”
According to the report, journalists are forced to act as the Party’s mouthpiece.Journalists will soon be required to complete a 90-hour training program, which will focus partly on Xi Jinping’s “Thought” in order to renew and receive their press cards.
Journalists already have to download the Study Xi: Strengthen the Country propaganda app that can collect their personal information.
China is the largest prisoner of journalists in the world.
The regime currently holds at least 127 journalists, both professional and non-professional.The simple act or publication of censored information or investigating a sensitive topic can lead to years of detention in unsanitary prisons where ill-treatment could lead to death.
The report states that foreign correspondents are not welcome in China.China’s intimidation against foreign reporters, based upon surveillance and visa blackmail led to 18 of them having to leave China in 2020.
Three foreign journalists of Chinese descent, Gui Minhai and Yang Hengjun, are currently being held on espionage allegations.
China has used Covid-19 to justify increased repression.
In 2020, at least ten journalists and online commentators were detained for simply informing the public of the Covid-19 crisis in Wuhan.Two of them, Zhang Zhan, and Fang Bin, remain detained.
The number of taboo subjects keeps increasing.Not only are sensitive topics like Tibet, Taiwan, or corruption subject to censorship but also natural disasters, #MeToo movements, and recognition of health professionals during Covid-19.
The report states that the National Security Law in Hong Kong is threatening journalists.The National Security Law, which China imposed in Hong Kong last year, is deliberately vague.
It has been used as a pretext to repress at least 12 journalists and press freedom defenders.Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, could all be sentenced to life.
The report identifies Carrie Lam as a puppet for the Beijing regime.The report reveals that Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, has closed down the last independent mainstream media, Apple Daily.
She is also censoring the public media group RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong).
CGTN continues to spread propaganda all over the globe.
Despite losing its UK license in 2021, the Chinese state-owned audiovisual company CGTN continues to broadcast propaganda from China.
The report stated that Chinese embassies are being used to suppress freedom of information.
The report said that Chinese diplomatic missions are a source of pressure on democracies to restrict information freedom.Lu Shaye, China’s ambassador to Paris, is well-known for his attacks on independent journalists and diatribes against them.
RSF previously reported that Beijing tried to end journalism and make it a tool for state propaganda.
The People’s Republic of China is ranked 177th of 180 in the 2021 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
This is only two spots higher than North Korea.The index’s creation in 2002 saw the special administrative region of Hong Kong drop from 18th to 80th in 2021.
It was once a bastion for press freedom.
Xinjiang has a media blockade.
The Beijing regime has waged a violent campaign against Uyghurs since 2016, under the guise of “fighting terrorism”.Seventy-one Uyghur journalists currently in detention, more than half the journalists imprisoned by China.
(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at [email protected])
san/dpb #metoo #China #Delhi #Delhi #New Delhi #Beijing #Apple #Covid-19
.
