European leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about China's crackdown on press freedom after two Australian journalists were forced to leave Beijing, writes China correspondent Eryk Bagshaw.
were expelled in March. Media organisations from the EU are also experiencing difficulties getting correspondents back into China. Their reporters already in the country have been increasingly subject to surveillance.Michael Pulch, the EU ambassador in Australia, said the actions amounted to restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion.
"With the expulsions of the American journalists and the way that Bill and Mike have been treated it has become very clear that China sees no benefit in having foreign correspondents in China anymore," she said. The US tightened visa restrictions on Chinese journalists in May, limiting visas for Chinese reporters to 90 days with the option for an extension. Australian intelligence authorities questioned four Chinese journalists in June over their links to a WeChat group that allegedly sought to influence Australian politics. The four journalists have since returned to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has accused the US and Australia of hypocrisy and harassing its citizens.
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