Beijing complains about bad foreign media coverage
Beijing (AsiaNews) - China's bad image on the world stage is not related to its human rights record, its denial of religious freedom, the absence of the rule of law and the widespread corruption of the Communist regime. Instead, the foreign press is to blame, this according to Wang Chen, minister in charge of the press office at the State Council, China's cabinet. The minister addressed a forum in Beijing with media representatives from China and France.
"It is not that China is against critical reporting," but "What we don't accept are double standards based on a Cold War mentality," Wang said.
Similarly, "For the French media, China has become an autocratic country with strong economic growth," lamented Cui Hongjian of the China Institute of International Studies.
"We must provide more positive information to the public," added Wang Fang, deputy head of the international section of the People's Daily newspaper, the Communist Party mouthpiece.
China operates a vast censorship system on its territory. Criticism of the government is very rare and usually ends with the dismissal and trial of the offending journalist.
At the same time, Beijing has tried to exert as much control as possible over foreign media. French reporters complained at the forum that they are not allowed to work in Tibet. In this region, Chinese security agents have used force against foreign reporters and constantly harass them.
The same is true for journalists who want to cover sensitive topics. For instance, it is hard to speak to Catholic bishops and priests, dissident Buddhist lamas or underground Protestant clergy. It is impossible to communicate with dissidents who are on trial or in prison.
Ultimately, Erik Izraelewicz, director of French newspaper Le Monde, insisted that a journalist "should not have to judge whether news is negative or positive, just whether there is any news".
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04/11/2013
