FCCC report: Foreign journalists in China face growing pressure as reporting independently becomes the “new abnormal”
BEIJING, June 8 2026 — Nearly all foreign correspondents working in China say reporting conditions fail to meet international standards, according to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China’s (FCCC) 2025 Media Freedoms Report, which says pressure, surveillance and intimidation have become “the new abnormal” for journalists covering the country.
The survey found that 94% of respondents said reporting conditions in China do not usually, or almost never, meet international standards. Nearly two-thirds (64%) reported being obstructed by police or other officials while reporting, while 77% said sources had declined interviews because they were not permitted to speak to foreign media.
The report points to growing pressure beyond China’s long-established political red lines. Almost half of respondents said new topics had become more sensitive over the past year, including the economy, demographics, trade tensions and emerging technologies. Many also described increasing difficulties persuading sources to speak and said economic reporting has become significantly harder.
Foreign correspondents also reported growing pressure on Chinese colleagues. Four in ten respondents said their local staff had experienced harassment or intimidation, while almost one-third said sources had faced questioning or other repercussions after speaking to foreign media. Respondents also raised concerns over digital surveillance, visa delays and legal threats linked to their reporting.
The report concludes that restrictions on reporting are no longer experienced as isolated incidents but as a routine feature of life for foreign journalists in China.
The FCCC’s 2025 Media Freedoms Survey was conducted in February and March 2026 and is based on responses from 89 correspondents representing international news organisations working in China.