The Chinese government has always tried to shield itself from foreign correspondents, says Peter Ellingsen, China correspondent from 1988 to 1991. 'What has changed is that China has become immensely powerful and Xi Jinping is taking them to the brink.'
"What has changed is that China has become immensely powerful and Xi Jinping is taking them to the brink," he said.
Seven uniformed officers simultaneously visited the homes of Smith in Shanghai and Birtles in Beijing at 12.30am on Thursday. The reporters were told they were banned from leaving the country and needed to organise a time to be questioned. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said China still welcomed foreign journalists and police were following "normal enforcement laws" when they sought to question Birtles and Smith. "So long as journalists follow the law they have nothing to worry about," foreign affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said.The Australian
"Beijing not only has to allow them to, but the media organisations would have to feel safe in sending them," he said. Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed the Australian government became concerned about the two journalists after Cheng's arrest, describing the last week as a "very disappointing series of events".
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'Just appalling': End of an era as Australia's last journalists in China forced outAustralian media organisations have no accredited journalists in China for the first time in almost 50 years after the last two correspondents were forced out of the country after a tense diplomatic standoff | Gallo_Ways
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Rush to remove Aussie journalists from China ‘highly disturbing’: Penny Wong | Sky News AustraliaShadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has reinforced the Labor Party’s support for a free press following a rush to return two Australian journalists from China over safety concerns.\n\nAustralian journalists Bill Birtles and Mike Smith were both flown home to Sydney following an encounter between ABC journalist Bill Birtles and the local police where he was asked to surrender himself for interviews.\n\nMs Wong described the situation as “highly disturbing”.\n\n“Australians believe that the right to freedom of expression, the right to freedom of opinion and the right of the press to press freedom is a core Australian value,' she said. \n\n“We believe Australian journalists and journalist everywhere should be able to do their work safely without the risk of intimidation or arbitrary detention'. \n\nMs Wong said a core national belief was the media plays a vital role in fostering respect and mutual understanding, key themes highlighted by the Chinese Embassies Deputy Head of Mission who spoke at a recent National Press Club address.\n\n“The return of these two journalists mean that Australia is, I think, without an Australian organisation having a representation in China for the first time since the 1970s.' \n\nImage: News Corp Australia
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‘Deeply worrying’ events shows just ‘how little we can trust China’ | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Chris Kenny says what has happened to the Australian correspondents in China is deeply worrying and shows just how badly the relationship between the two nations is deteriorating. \n\n“More to the point, it goes to show how little we can trust China, how brutal the government is and how it doesn't care a jot for freedom, fairness and the rule of law”. \n\nIt comes as two Australian journalists have landed in Sydney after being rushed home from China following advice from officials in Beijing around fears for their safety.\n\nChinese authorities questioned them in regards to the Cheng Lei investigation.\n\nMr Kenny said Bill Birtles from the ABC and Michael Smith from the Australian Financial Review “were effectively spirited out of the country by our diplomats, after sheltering at our embassy and our Shanghai consulate”. \n\n“Australia has been open and upfront with China, fair and generous,” Mr Kenny said. \n\n“In response, Beijing is punishing us for standing up for our own interests and standing up for full transparency over the coronavirus pandemic”. \n\nImage: AP
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China is looking increasingly ‘aggressive dictatorial and isolated’ | Sky News AustraliaDemocratic nations across the world are beginning to “rally together” against China after its leadership increasingly starts to isolate itself, according to former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer.\n\nIt comes as two Australian journalists were rushed back from China to Sydney after officials in Beijing raised concerns over their safety.\n\nThe ABC’s Bill Birtles and the Australian Financial Review’s Michael Smith were told by Australian officials to return home, but before they could Chinese security officers visited their homes wanting to talk regarding the Cheng Lei investigation.\n\nMr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny this is emblematic of a “huge change” in the way China is engaging foreign nations.\n\n“It has decided it’s going to be cutting itself off diplomatically from the rest of the world through behaving like this,” he said.\n\n“Let them – as time goes by – work out that this kind of diplomacy is just never going to advance China’s national interest.\n\n“People around the world, particularly around the democratic world, are just alarmed by what they’re doing and it’s making them look aggressive, dictatorial, and it’s making them increasingly isolated.”\n\nImage: AP
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This was the moment Bill Birtles realised he was no longer safe in ChinaAfter seven Chinese State Security police officers arrived at my door at midnight, I realised the concerns about my safety were real. What happened next was unprecedented, writes Bill Birtles.
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