March 26, 2021
The annual session of China’s parliament has illustrated a worrying trend in the way foreign journalists are allowed to work in the country.
During Beijing’s “Two Sessions” legislative and political meetings in early March, many international reporters were excluded from press conferences and barred from asking questions.
As is increasingly the case, some of the few foreign correspondents invited to attend press conferences were asked in advance to submit questions or topics for the government to vet and approve. This is a marked regression from the start of the millennium, when Chinese government bodies interacted more freely with foreign correspondents.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China calls on the Chinese government to once again allow unscripted questions and follow-up questions at all government press conferences, especially during the “Two Sessions,” the only time during the year when foreign journalists may have a chance to meet senior Chinese officials.
As foreign correspondents, we are dedicated to reporting on China fairly, accurately, and free from state interference and restrictions. Only with genuine press conferences and the ability to ask real questions can the international press produce reports that are credible in the eyes of foreign readers and viewers.
The FCCC urges Chinese authorities to embrace greater transparency in this time of great international interest in China, not least ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.