Foreign Correspondents Club of China, Access Denied - report on working conditions in 2017, Jan. 31, 2018

Earlier reports from the Foreign Correspondents Club of China:

2018 (Jan.) | 2016 (April) | 2016 (April - Tibet) | 2015 (September) | 2015 (May) | 2014 (May) | 2014 (March) | 2013 (July) | 2013 (May) | 2012 (December) | 2008 (summer) | 2007 (August)

SUMMARY and KEY FINDINGS of the report on working conditions in 2017. Click below to download the pdf of the full report.

The Chinese government has intensified its attempts to deny or restrict the access of foreign journalists to large parts of the country while increasing the use of the visa renewal process to pressure correspondents and news organizations whose coverage it does not like.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China annual survey asked members about their experiences during the calendar year 2017.

The results show that reporting conditions in China are deteriorating in a number of important regards, a conclusion borne out by the marked increase in the number of journalists who think conditions are worsening compared to the year before.

There was also no let up in 2017 in violent attacks against foreign journalists and intimidation of news sources, which continued alongside growing concerns about surveillance and invasions of privacy.

One of the most significant findings is that certain regions of China became particularly difficult for correspondents in 2017. Local security agents and thugs stepped up intimidation of foreign journalists in the far western region of Xinjiang, in border areas such as those near North Korea and at the trials of human rights activists.

Correspondents surveyed by the FCCC also reported greater difficulties in renewing their visas. The FCCC is aware of five international news organizations that experienced visa difficulties in 2
017 that appeared to be reporting-related. Those difficulties included lengthy delays in approval, the issuance of credentials with unusually short validity and outright refusal by Chinese authorities to issue accreditation.
 
In the course of their reporting in 2017, some journalists were physically beaten. Others were detained and questioned. In other cases, news sources were too afraid to talk because they feared reprisal from authorities.

The FCCC also notes with concern the willingness of Chinese authorities to use interactions with foreign media as evidence of criminal activity. In January, Tashi Wangchuk, a Tibetan advocate, was detained after speaking to the New York Times about Tibetan education and culture. At the time of this report’s publication, Tashi had been tried in court for “inciting separatism,” but not yet sentenced.

2017 KEY FINDINGS
This report is based on a survey of journalists who belong to the Foreign Correspondents’ of Club of China in Beijing. Conducted in December of 2017, the survey was completed by 117 of 218 correspondent members. Detailed results can be found later in this report, followed by a timeline of reported incidents of harassment and detention of foreign correspondents.

• 40% of respondents felt reporting conditions in 2017 deteriorated from the year before, compared with 29% in 2016

• Reporting grew more difficult in many areas of China, but in particular Xinjiang, China’s westernmost region. 73% of respondents who traveled to Xinjiang in 2017 were told by officials and security agents that reporting was prohibited or restricted, compared with 42% in the FCCC’s 2016 survey

• 15% of respondents said they encountered problems during the renewal process, up from 6% the previous year. Compared to 2016, twice the number of respondents said the problems were related to their reporting. 6% of respondents were threatened with cancellation or non-renewal of visas in 2017, up from 2% in the FCCC’s previous survey

• Correspondents reported higher levels of concern about surveillance and invasion of privacy, as well as greater pressure by overseas Chinese officials on media organization headquarters

• Nearly half of surveyed correspondents said they experienced interference, harassment and physical violence, roughly in line with 2016

• News sources in China continued to face negative consequences for interacting with a foreign journalist. 26% of surveyed correspondents said sources had been harassed, detained or called in for questioning, roughly in line with 2016

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One of China's Foreign Ministry Spokespersons, Hua Chunying commented on the reports at her press briefing on Jan. 30. This account is from People's Daily:
 

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying Hua showed her wit again at the Tuesday press conference when responding to the false report of an association of foreign journalists in Beijing.

Rather than give a direct response, she threw questions back after a foreign journalist asked for Hua’s comment on the accusations in the annual report issued by The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC), which claimed not-so-favorable working conditions for foreign journalists in China, including denied and restricted access and pressure from the visa renewal process.

Before Hua called the accusations “unreasonable,” she first asked the foreign journalists in the room if they are members of the so-called organization and whether or not they approved of the report’s content.

She then asked them how they feel about the working conditions in China, and whether they know that the Ministry’s Information Department provided all the necessary convenience and assistance for them.

During Hua’s reply, no foreign journalist at the press conference raised his or her hand in approval of the FCCC’s report; in fact, all the media remained silent.

In December, the FCCC surveyed correspondent members about their experiences during the calendar year of 2017 and reported that journalism in China has grown more difficult. The FCCC keeps the routine of issuing an annual report of working conditions for foreign reporters, while most of the reports criticize China for obstructing reporters’ coverage.

FCCC members in no way reflect the genuine opinion of the almost 600 foreign journalists in China, said Hua, adding that China will continue to assist and facilitate the work of foreign journalists as always.