Australian journalists flown out of China 'amid diplomatic standoff' | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
September 30, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
Australian journalists flown out of China 'amid diplomatic standoff'

World+Biz

TBS Report
08 September, 2020, 08:25 am
Last modified: 08 September, 2020, 11:48 am

Related News

  • The US needs India to buffer China, and Modi knows it
  • Chinese firm to build solar power plant in Bangladesh
  • US accuses China of global media manipulation
  • China launches first cross-sea bullet train line near Taiwan Strait
  • US soldier Travis King in US custody after expulsion from North Korea to China

Australian journalists flown out of China 'amid diplomatic standoff'

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Bill Birtles and the Australian Financial Review's Mike Smith landed in Sydney on Tuesday

TBS Report
08 September, 2020, 08:25 am
Last modified: 08 September, 2020, 11:48 am
The ABC says it hopes to reopen its bureau "as soon as possible." Photo: BBC
The ABC says it hopes to reopen its bureau "as soon as possible." Photo: BBC

Two Australian news outlets have removed their reporters from China referring "diplomatic standoff."

Relations between Australia and China have deteriorated in recent years, reports BBC. 

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Bill Birtles and the Australian Financial Review's Mike Smith landed in Sydney on Tuesday. 

Chinese authorities questioned both men before their departure. The ABC reported Birtles was "not asked about his reporting or conduct in China".

The AFR reported that Chinese authorities had questioned the journalists about Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist for Chinese state media who has been detained since last month.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said consular officials had provided support to the journalists.

"Our embassy in Beijing and consulate-general in Shanghai engaged with Chinese government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

What is known?

The ABC reported that Australian diplomats advised Birtles and ABC management last week that he should leave China. He was then booked on a flight due to leave Beijing last Thursday.

But the situation escalated last Wednesday at midnight when seven Chinese police officers visited the reporter's apartment as he held farewell drinks with friends, the ABC reported.

The officers told Birtles he could not leave the country and would later be questioned over a "national security case", the report said.

He immediately contacted Australian consular officials, who collected him and took him to the Australian embassy, where he spent the next four days.

During that time, he was interviewed by Chinese police in the presence of Australia's ambassador to China, Graham Fletcher.

Smith, who is based in Shanghai, also received a visit by police - prompting him to go to the Australian consulate there. Both men were questioned over Ms Lei, the AFR reported.

They were allowed to leave the country in exchange for agreeing to be interviewed by police.

What's been the reaction?

"It's very disappointing to have to leave under those circumstances," Birtles said in Sydney.

"It's a relief to be back in the country with genuine rule of law. But this was a whirlwind and it's not a particularly good experience."

The AFR's editors, Michael Stutchbury and Paul Bailey, said they were glad both journalists were safe.

"This incident targeting two journalists, who were going about their normal reporting duties, is both regrettable and disturbing and is not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China," they said in a joint statement.

Bill Birtles and Mike Smith were the last two correspondents for Australian media working in China. Their evacuation means for the first time since the mid-1970s there are no accredited Australian journalists in the country.

China is not only Australia's key trading partner and the biggest customer for its coal and iron ore, but it's also one of its most important stories to cover. As tensions rise between Beijing and Canberra, the need for journalists on the ground in China becomes ever more crucial.

The ABC's news director, Gaven Morris, said: "The story of China, its relationship with Australia and its role in our region and in the world is one of great importance for all Australians and we want to continue having our people on the ground to cover it."

But as both countries continue to exchange political and diplomatic jabs - and with China's broader crackdown on Western journalists - it's hard to see when Australian reporters will be allowed back.

This development is not only a critical marker in the relationship between the two countries, it will no doubt affect Australian media coverage of this important story.

Top News

Australian journalists / australia / China

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Harsher bilateral loans set to make external debt repayment tougher
    Harsher bilateral loans set to make external debt repayment tougher
  • BCL activist killed, 20 injured in AL-BNP clash in Chattogram
    BCL activist killed, 20 injured in AL-BNP clash in Chattogram
  • Photo: AFP
    Shakib-less Tigers make light work of Sri Lanka with big win in 1st World Cup warm up

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Forex reserves fall to $21.15 billion
  • BRACU, DU, JU, NSU lead Bangladeshi universities in World Rankings 2024
    BRACU, DU, JU, NSU lead Bangladeshi universities in World Rankings 2024
  • Photo: BCB
    Shakib says he hasn't spoken with Litton since he broke his bat
  • File photo of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant/UNB
    First batch of uranium reaches Rooppur
  • Photo: ICC
    BCB President should give less interviews: Shakib
  • Photo: RNPP project authorities.
    First shipment of nuclear fuel for Rooppur plant arrives in Dhaka 

Related News

  • The US needs India to buffer China, and Modi knows it
  • Chinese firm to build solar power plant in Bangladesh
  • US accuses China of global media manipulation
  • China launches first cross-sea bullet train line near Taiwan Strait
  • US soldier Travis King in US custody after expulsion from North Korea to China

Features

Oh Oh Jaane Jaana: Enduring charisma of a quintessential 90s Bollywood song

Oh Oh Jaane Jaana: Enduring charisma of a quintessential 90s Bollywood song

14h | Features
Food delivery rider pedals through Dhaka's wet roads, ensuring timely deliveries despite the pouring rain. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

An unexpected rain, an unexpected expense: How food delivery men survive Dhaka’s storms

16h | Features
More than 86 lakh Bangladeshis went abroad as migrant workers in the last 14 years, according to BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training). Naturally, these workers return to Bangladesh at some point to settle down. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Why migrant workers have a hard time back at home

2d | Panorama
What impact will a forward forex rate have?

What impact will a forward forex rate have?

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Unarmed Armenians do not want to return to Nagorno-Karabakh

Unarmed Armenians do not want to return to Nagorno-Karabakh

2d | TBS World
Is injury the main reason Tamim is excluded from WC Squad?

Is injury the main reason Tamim is excluded from WC Squad?

2d | TBS SPORTS
Tourism master plan aims to attract 5.57m tourists annually by 2041

Tourism master plan aims to attract 5.57m tourists annually by 2041

1d | TBS Today
Economic zones to come under eco-friendly performance rating

Economic zones to come under eco-friendly performance rating

9h | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]