Canadian public broadcaster CBC has announced that it will close its branch office in Beijing because the Chinese government is unable to issue journalist visas.
China's foreign ministry claims that if there are no resident reporters for a long period of time, it will be considered finished.
Canadian public broadcaster CBC announced on the 2nd that it has closed a branch office in Beijing, China, which has been open for more than 40 years.
According to the CBC, after a journalist stationed in Beijing returned to Japan due to the spread of the new coronavirus, two years ago in October 2020, he applied for a visa for a successor reporter and worked with the Chinese side, but it was not issued. It means that it was not done.
Regarding this, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on the 3rd, ``CBC reporters left their posts two years ago. ' and emphasized that 'we must comply with Chinese law.'
Four years ago, Canadian authorities arrested the vice chairman of Huawei, a major Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, while Chinese authorities detained two Canadians.
In addition, the Chinese government has been nervous about overseas media reports, such as banning the international broadcasting of the British public broadcaster BBC from broadcasting in China last year, saying that it was contrary to the truth and harmed the interests of the country.