FCCC's report on China distorts facts

The recent annual report by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China is another attempt to discredit China, and the organization has a history of making such claims.

In its latest report, the FCCC alleged foreign media in China faced strict COVID controls, including harassment and surveillance in 2022, and highlighted "challenges to freedom of the press" in China.

However, China has always welcomed foreign journalists to report objectively and provided support in accordance with international practice and law. Some journalists in the Western media, however, have taken a biased position against China, and helped to facilitate Western authorities' interference in China's internal affairs.

In its 2020 report, the FCCC claimed a decline in working conditions for journalists in China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson disputed the claims, labeling the report as "inappropriate and unwise" due to the fact China does not even recognize the organization.

Despite its championing of freedom of the press, the US has not been immune to restrictions on foreign journalists, including arrests. In 2020, the US State Department designated several Chinese media outlets, such as China Central Television and People's Daily, as foreign missions, subjecting them to full administrative supervision and removing their rights. This move reveals a double standard in the US regarding freedom of speech.

Moreover, domestic journalists in the US face increasing risks, as highlighted by the case of Evan Lambert, a reporter charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass while covering a news conference in Ohio. These incidents call into question the extent to which the US truly upholds its commitment to freedom of the press.