January 1, China Threatens Foreign Media After Deadly Fire

Wyatt’s Take

• Chinese officials warned the press about reporting on the Hong Kong fire.
• Foreign journalists were told not to criticize Beijing’s response.
• Pro-democracy voices are facing harsh crackdowns in Hong Kong.

China is cracking down on foreign coverage after a deadly fire in Hong Kong killed 159 people. Beijing’s security office pressured journalists, telling them not to report anything negative about how authorities responded to the tragedy.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security gathered reporters and warned them against “distorted facts” and said negative coverage would bring consequences under their tough security law.

“Some foreign media have recently reported on Hong Kong ignoring the facts, spreading false information, distorting and smearing the government’s disaster relief and aftermath work, attacking and interfering with the Legislative Council election, provoking social division and opposition,” their statement said.

Officials declared, “Do not say you have not been warned,” making it clear that critical reporting was risky under the 2020 law pushed by Beijing.

The local Hong Kong government echoed these warnings, blaming outsiders and “destabilising forces” for stirring up trouble online and in the streets.

“Regrettably, foreign forces and anti-China and destabilising forces with ulterior motives, through disseminating fake news and false messages on the Internet, and even distributing seditious pamphlets … instigate social division and conflict to undermine the society’s unity in taking forward the support and relief work,” a government spokesman said.

The government also cracked down on pro-democracy groups and arrested people over social media posts and petitions calling for an independent look into the disaster.

One former district councilor, Kenneth Cheung, said after his arrest, “I shared articles that moved me and had no intention to test national security’s limits. I really have no idea where their red line lies.” He added, “Previously only public figures or people active in politics were targeted, but in the last couple of weeks, even a volunteer delivering relief supplies was detained.”

The Chinese Communist Party pushed tough new rules after big protests in Hong Kong just a few years ago, and people asking questions now are finding themselves at risk.

If you want the truth, you have to look past what the government says and listen to the people on the ground.

Wyatt Matters

Freedom of speech is under attack in places like Hong Kong, where standing up or even asking questions about government actions can get you in trouble. In Middle America, we know how important it is to protect the right to speak up and hold those in power accountable.

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