Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), In a world where the free flow of information is both a cornerstone of democracy and a vehicle for global understanding, the challenges faced by foreign journalists in China present a troublesome picture of the complexities inherent in international reporting.
As revealed by a recent survey conducted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC), the past year has been particularly taxing for these journalists, who have encountered an array of obstacles ranging from police pursuits and legal threats to the abrupt cancellation of interviews by local authorities. This comprehensive survey, involving 101 foreign journalists (a sample representing roughly a quarter of the international journalistic presence in China according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) sheds light on a media environment mired with difficulties, despite notable improvements from the height of the pandemic.
The FCCC’s findings are telling: a significant 81 percent of respondents reported experiencing “interference, intimidation, or violence” while performing their duties in 2023. Furthermore, more than half of these journalists were hampered in their endeavors by police or other officials, signaling an often hostile working climate. Yet, amidst these challenges, there emerges a narrative of resilience and adaptation. The easing of China’s stringent COVID-19 restrictions, for example, has been a double-edged sword. While it has facilitated greater mobility and reporting opportunities, it has also meant a return to confronting the pre-pandemic media adversities that have long characterized the Chinese media landscape.
A crucial aspect of this landscape is the issue of access. For many foreign correspondents, particularly those from European media, visa applications have seen smoother processing in 2023 compared to the preceding years. This improvement, however, stands in contrast to the experiences of U.S. media organizations, for whom visa approvals have been notably scarce.
Only one such organization succeeded in obtaining a visa for a new correspondent, a replacement for a journalist who had left China, while all other applications from the U.S. were rebuffed. This situation stems from an escalation in 2020, when China expelled 20 mostly American journalists following the Trump administration’s reduction of visas for Chinese journalists—a move that has since made press visas a contentious issue in the geopolitical tug-of-war between China and the United States. The consequence is a noticeable understaffing in U.S. newsrooms across China, a dilemma complicated further by the delicate nature of diplomatic negotiations, rendering many American journalists reluctant to publicly discuss the issue.
The shifting dynamics of China’s stance towards foreign media can be traced back to the early tenure of President Xi Jinping, who has consistently framed foreign influence as a matter of national security. A speech in 2016 highlighted Xi’s perspective, emphasizing the need for China to amplify its voice in the face of external criticism—criticism he perceives as predominantly Western and unconstructively prescriptive.
This viewpoint has rendered prominent international media outlets, such as the BBC and The New York Times, targets of accusations of disseminating “fake news.” Linette Lim, a researcher on China’s media climate at University College Dublin, notes that while English-language media are particularly vilified, there exists a broader disposition against foreign media as instigators of trouble, discouraging engagement from the Chinese populace.
Once regarded as an unavoidable aspect of international relations, critical foreign reporting is increasingly seen as unnecessary by the Chinese government. This shift has tangible repercussions for the scope and depth of reporting from China. Foreign journalists, despite enjoying more leeway than their Chinese counterparts, who face the world’s second-most repressive media environment, per the World Press Freedom Index, find themselves under growing pressure to conform.
This year alone, the Chinese Embassy in The Hague has issued statements criticizing Dutch media for their coverage of Taiwan and Hong Kong, underscoring the government’s proactive stance against perceived negative portrayals.
The consequences of these constraints extend beyond the immediate challenges faced by journalists on the ground. They also affect the ability of the international community to gain a nuanced understanding of life in China, its societal trends, and the broader implications for global relations. The New York Times, which a decade ago boasted a dozen foreign reporters in China and now operates with merely two, epitomizes the diminishing capacity for in-depth reporting. This reduction in journalistic resources not only hampers the production of deeper stories but also affects bilateral relations by limiting the West’s insight into the evolving Chinese societal and political landscape.
Ultimately, the trials faced by foreign journalists in China are emblematic of the broader, existential challenges confronting the press worldwide. Their perseverance in the face of adversity not only exemplifies the courage inherent in journalistic endeavors but also serves as a call for the protection of media freedom everywhere. As the international community contemplates the future of global journalism, the lessons from China’s media landscape offer invaluable insights into the resilience and innovation necessary to navigate the evolving challenges of the 21st century.
Opinions expressed in the op-ed section are solely those of the individual author and do not represent the official stance of our newspaper. We believe in providing a platform for a wide range of voices and perspectives, even those that may challenge or differ from our own. As always, we remain committed to providing our readers with high-quality, fair, and balanced journalism. Thank you for your continued support.Sincerely, The Brussels Morning Team
