Britain summoned China’s ambassador on Tuesday to discuss the treatment of a British journalist whose employer the BBC said was attacked by Chinese police while covering a protest in Shanghai.
The incident deepened long-standing diplomatic tensions between Britain and China over a range of issues, including human rights, China’s approach to Taiwan, security laws in Hong Kong, and Chinese economic policies.
On Sunday, the BBC said its reporter, Ed Lawrence, was beaten, arrested and handcuffed while following protests against Covid-19 lockdown measures. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to the report.
Speaking on his arrival at the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Bucharest, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that he had instructed the Chinese envoy to be called upon the incident.
“It is critical that we protect media freedom. It is at the heart of the UK’s belief system and it is critical that journalists be able to do their work without being disturbed and without fear of attack,” he said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized China’s approach to the protests, saying the government has chosen more pressure rather than listening to its people.
This received a response from the Chinese embassy in London. On Tuesday, it posted a statement on its website attributed to an embassy spokesperson: “The UK side is not in a position to pass judgment on China’s Covid policy or other internal affairs.”
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.