In China, Bad Media News Keeps Coming

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(AP / CBS)

I know we've been writing about China a lot lately, but it's hard to ignore the way in which the country deals with the media, as two developments today illustrate. First is bad news in the case of New York Times researcher Zhao Yan, who has been in jail for 19 months for allegedly disclosing state secrets to the Times. Zhao and The Times say he did no such thing. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for Zhao's release, and President Bush has twice appealed on his behalf.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting the United States this week, and there were hopes that Zhao would be released as a goodwill gesture. Last month the case against him was even withdrawn, though he remained in jail despite the lack of charges. Today, however, it was reported that, according to Zhao's lawyer, Chinese authorities have started an investigation period that could lead to the charges being reinstated. At the end of the six week investigation, prosecutors will decide whether or not to reinstate charges. The lead defense lawyer expects them to do so.

As Jim Yardley points out, the Chinese media are forbidden to report on the case.

The other China media story comes from the Ben Blanchard at Reuters, who brings word that China today defended its rules controlling foreign access to domestic media and television. (The government has restricted local use of foreign news footage and recently announced restrictions on foreign magazines.) "Senior officials also said Chinese people preferred reading foreign magazines on science and technology -- which are permitted by the government -- and that sensitive topics of religion and politics were unsuitable for local readers," writes Blanchard.

Hu Zhanfan, deputy director of the broadcasting regulator, argued that China is simply trying to "protect intellectual property rights," as well as "guarantee the accuracy and reliability of news reports." The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Blanchard notes, has accused President Hu of overseeing "the most severe crackdown on the media" since the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.