China Bans BBC for ‘Untruthful’ Coverage
BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China’s broadcasting regulator has banned the British television channel, BBC World News, from airing in the Asian country for violating regulations.
The National Radio and Television Administration said in a statement on Friday that an investigation found BBC World News’ China-related reports "seriously violated” regulations for "truthful and fair” coverage and undermined China’s national interests.
Therefore, the administration said, it will not accept the channel’s new annual application to air in China.
Beijing on Friday denounced BBC for reporting "fake news” about its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, demanding an apology from the British broadcaster for politicizing the health issue.
The BBC’s Beijing office aired a video claiming it showed Chinese law enforcement authorities "violently” enforcing coronavirus restrictions, but it turned out to be a video clip of an anti-terrorism drill in the country.
The latest development also follows a decision by Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom to revoke the license of China Global Television Network (CGTN) to broadcast in the United Kingdom.
Ofcom said on February 4 that Star China Media Limited (SCML) — the company that owns the UK license for CGTN — does not have day-to-day control over the English-language satellite news channel.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the ruling, saying it was "based on ideological prejudice and political reasons.”
London’s decision to offer millions of Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship has only further infuriated Beijing, which has accused Britain of behaving with a "colonial mentality”.
London has also angered Beijing by banning Chinese telecoms group Huawei from involvement in its 5G network after the United States raised spying fears without any evidence.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the ban "an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom”.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price waded into the fray, calling on China to allow an "informed citizenry” that can freely exchange ideas.
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China said the reasons given by Beijing for the ban seemed to send a warning to foreign media.
"The FCC is concerned that such language is intended to send a warning to foreign media operating in China that they may face sanctions if their reporting does not follow the Chinese party line about Xinjiang and other ethnic minority regions,” it said.
The National Radio and Television Administration said in a statement on Friday that an investigation found BBC World News’ China-related reports "seriously violated” regulations for "truthful and fair” coverage and undermined China’s national interests.
Therefore, the administration said, it will not accept the channel’s new annual application to air in China.
Beijing on Friday denounced BBC for reporting "fake news” about its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, demanding an apology from the British broadcaster for politicizing the health issue.
The BBC’s Beijing office aired a video claiming it showed Chinese law enforcement authorities "violently” enforcing coronavirus restrictions, but it turned out to be a video clip of an anti-terrorism drill in the country.
The latest development also follows a decision by Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom to revoke the license of China Global Television Network (CGTN) to broadcast in the United Kingdom.
Ofcom said on February 4 that Star China Media Limited (SCML) — the company that owns the UK license for CGTN — does not have day-to-day control over the English-language satellite news channel.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the ruling, saying it was "based on ideological prejudice and political reasons.”
London’s decision to offer millions of Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship has only further infuriated Beijing, which has accused Britain of behaving with a "colonial mentality”.
London has also angered Beijing by banning Chinese telecoms group Huawei from involvement in its 5G network after the United States raised spying fears without any evidence.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the ban "an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom”.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price waded into the fray, calling on China to allow an "informed citizenry” that can freely exchange ideas.
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China said the reasons given by Beijing for the ban seemed to send a warning to foreign media.
"The FCC is concerned that such language is intended to send a warning to foreign media operating in China that they may face sanctions if their reporting does not follow the Chinese party line about Xinjiang and other ethnic minority regions,” it said.