“BREATHE EASY” China frees press for Olympics

by admin
December 2nd, 2006

Determined to make the Olympic Games a success, the Chinese government has relaxed decades-old restrictions giving the foreign media more freedom to travel and report from across the country. The new rules that come into effect on January 1 will expire on October 17, 2008 immediately after the Games close. Foreign journalists based in Beijing or Shanghai will no longer need the provincial government’s permission before visiting any province, including Tibet. This requirement of a permission has been a major hurdle since the early 1990s. Journalists are wary of informing the governments about their story plans for the permission as this information is often used to block news sources.

“Foreign journalists will also no longer need to apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for permission to carry out reporting in all provinces of China… but need only prior consent of the organisations or individuals they want to interview,’’ director of the information department of Chinese foreign ministry Liu Jianchao said.The new measure was welcomed by the Foreign Correspondents Club of China, the biggest representative group of foreign journalists in China. “Implementation would be the key to the success of these new regulations,’’ Melinda Liu, FCCC president told TOI. He added, “It is also necessary to make the changes permanent instead of setting out an expiry date.”

“The key lies in whether certain officials, especially the police, would be eager to implement the new rules,” Ted Plafker, correspondent for the Economist, said.There has been intense speculation on whether China, with its penchant for heavy-handed censorship, would deal with the 20,000 foreign media expected in Beijing for the Games. “The regulations follow international practices and have been made in the spirit of providing foreign journalists convenience to carry out reporting activities in China during the Games and the preparatory period,” Liu, the official spokesperson, said.

Replying to a question on whether the rules would apply to Tibet, he said, “So long as you can secure the consent from your interviewee you can go ahead with your interview. The new regulations should apply to all areas in China.” Visiting journalists are at present accompanied by government officials. This rule has also been withdrawn. The government has also allowed foreign journalists to hire Chinese citizens to assist them. However, the ban on hiring Chinese citizens to work as journalists in foreign organisations remains intact.