Chinanews.com, Beijing, March 31st, title: Hua Chunying asked the BBC reporter in China: "What is he running" and what should he "do"
China News Service reporter Zhang Su
At the regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 31st, a reporter asked about the departure of BBC correspondent John Sudworth in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made it clear that before Sha Lei left his post, he did not go through the formalities that a resident foreign correspondent should go through before leaving his post. It was "leave without saying goodbye."
Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Photo by Xue Wei
It is reported that for a long time, many false reports concerning China, such as the "source of the epidemic", "the filter of the underworld," and "Chinese dirty cotton" have all come from Sha Lei.
Recently, some media noticed that Sha Lei had disappeared, but under closer investigation, he had already left the country.
Hua Chunying said that in these few days, when Sha Lei's resident press card needed to be extended, she learned that Sha Lei had left without saying goodbye.
He did not inform the relevant Chinese authorities in any way, did not perform the formalities that should be performed by the foreign resident reporter before leaving his post, and did not inform the Chinese side of the reason for his departure.
However, the outside world has noticed that some people and entities in Xinjiang who have suffered damages due to their reported Xinjiang-related fake news intend to sue Sha Lei.
Hua Chunying emphasized at the meeting that this is entirely a nongovernmental behavior, and that "the public's awareness of using legal means to safeguard their own honor and interests is constantly increasing" and has nothing to do with the Chinese government.
Hua Chunying also pointed out that he has not heard of any Chinese authorities threatening Sha Lei.
"So, if Sha Lei thinks his report is fair and objective, he should respond bravely without being afraid. If there is evidence that he has been threatened, he should call the police and we will protect his safety." Hua Chunying then asked back: "But what is he running?"
Hua Chunying further pointed out in response to the BBC's China-related reports that the media produced a large number of fake news with strong ideological bias, which seriously deviated from the objective, balanced and fair position of media reports, especially in Xinjiang-related, Hong Kong-related and related issues. The spread of a large number of false information on the issue of the new crown pneumonia epidemic has been strongly opposed by the Chinese people.
"China has also made solemn representations to the station many times, hoping that they will take China's position seriously, abandon anti-China prejudices and double standards, stop slandering and smearing China, and hope that they can report China objectively, fairly and accurately." She said.
Then, Hua Chunying also cited research by Chinese and foreign scholars and pointed out that the BBC's series of fraudulent acts on international issues "even reached the point where the BBC insiders couldn't stand it."
She also pointed out that although the British Communications Authority can supervise many departments of the BBC, it cannot supervise its international channels, "that is to say, BBC International, which is responsible for disseminating British values to the outside world, has obtained the'shangfang sword' to do whatever it wants."
Hua Chunying asked her colleagues to play a video posted on YouTube.
In the video, a former British media person confessed that one of the main "sources" of smear reports on China is the so-called "scholar" Zheng Guoen, and Zheng Guoen admitted on his personal Twitter that he was connected to the BBC and looked for it after receiving a commission. evidence".
In this regard, another BBC reporter in China immediately raised an objection at a regular press conference, insisting that although she made a Xinjiang-related video, "I have never met Zheng Guoen or emailed him."
"I don't know this person either (referring to the former British media person in the video)." Hua Chunying replied, pointing out that Zheng Guoen revealed on Twitter that the BBC asked him for "evidence", but the specific operator "is you or you" Colleagues, I don’t know anymore, you need to conduct further investigations within the BBC.”
Subsequently, Hua Chunying again listed the relevant research of Chinese and foreign scholars on the BBC's reporting of fake news, and other British media conducted public opinion surveys and found that nearly half of the interviewees believed that the BBC's reports were unfair.
"This is why we feel that the BBC is facing a credibility crisis. You need to take action and work hard to change people's impression of the BBC." She told the BBC reporter in China that it should be more objective, fair and consistent. The actual news proves that the BBC can be trusted.
Hua Chunying also reiterated to reporters that China has always protected the rights of foreign journalists to cover and work in China in accordance with laws and regulations, and has also been working hard to provide convenience and assistance for foreign journalists to live and work in China.
What China opposes is ideological prejudice against China, it opposes fake news under the guise of so-called "press freedom", and it opposes behavior that violates journalistic professional ethics.
"When a media puts the so-called ideology and the values he believes to be correct above the truth, what is the difference between him and'overriding science over science in the fight against the epidemic'?" Hua Chunying is serious. In other words, "the latter pays the price of life, the former must pay the price of credibility." (End)