Daily US Times: Two Australian news outlets have removed their journalists from China over what they say is a diplomatic standoff.
The Australian Financial Review’s Mike Smith and Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Bill Birtles landed in Sydney on Tuesday.
Before their departure, Chinese authorities questioned both men while the ABC reported Birtles was “not asked about his reporting or conduct in China”.
Relations between China and Australia have deteriorated in recent years.
Marise Payne, Australian Foreign Minister, said consular officials had provided support to the journalists.
She said in a statement on Tuesday: “Our embassy in Beijing and consulate-general in Shanghai engaged with Chinese government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia.”
The Australian Financial Review reported that Chinese authorities had questioned the journalists about Cheng Lei, a journalist from Australia, for Chinese state media who has been detained since last month.
What is known?
The ABC reported that last week the Australian diplomats advised Birtles and ABC management that he should leave China. He was then booked on a flight due to leave Beijing last Thursday.
The ABC reported that the situation escalated last Wednesday at midnight when seven Chinese police officers visited the reporter’s apartment as he held farewell drinks with friends.
The report said the officers told Birtles he could not leave the country and would later be questioned over a “national security case”.
He immediately contacted Australian consular officials, who collected him and took him to the Australian embassy, where he spent the next four days.
During his time in the embassy, he was interviewed by Chinese police in the presence of Australia’s ambassador to China, Graham Fletcher.
Shanghai based Smith also received a visit by police – prompting him to go to the Australian consulate there. The AFR reported both journalists were questioned over Ms Lei.
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