The Chinese government has effectively expelled a French journalist who suggested in an article that China’s outspoken solidarity with France following the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris carried “ulterior motives”.
According to international media, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that it would not renew the press credentials of Ursula Gauthier, a Beijing correspondent for the French weekly L’Obs. Without the credentials, Gauthier is unable to apply for a visa renewal and will be force to leave China by Dec. 31.
In an article published on Nov. 23, Gauthier wrote that in supporting France China “demands in return support from the international community for its own problems with its most restless minority: the Uighurs”. She suggested that radicalisation among Uighurs in China’s far west Xinjiang province was due in large part to China’s repression of the mainly Muslim, Turkic-speaking group.
Explaining its decision not to renew Gauthier’s credentials, the Foreign Ministry said the article had “incited the outrage of the Chinese people” and that China “does not tolerate the freedom to embolden terrorism”. Gauthier, who refused to apologise for her article, was said to have been the target of harsh criticism in China’s state-run media.
In comments made to the BBC, Gauthier rejected the government’s accusations and characterised her expulsion as an attempt to silence critical coverage.
“I said I never supported terrorism — how do you want me to apologise for something I have not written? … I am convinced that they are very clearly trying to intimidate foreign press in China because they don’t want anyone to say things which are different from the official version of the question.”
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement e-mailed to the International Press Institute (IPI) that Gauthier’s expulsion constituted “a most serious development and a grave threat to the ability of foreign correspondents to work in China”.
The statement added: “Receiving criticism is a normal and necessary part of journalistic work, but this is neither proportionate nor reasonable. Insinuating that Ms. Gauthier supports terrorism is a particularly egregious personal and professional affront with no basis in fact.”
IPI Director of Press Freedom Programmes Scott Griffen said IPI deplored the Chinese government’s decision to expel Gauthier as a reaction to her critical reporting.
“China’s retaliation against Ms. Gauthier for doing her job is a deeply unfortunate development and another sign that China is unwilling to brook criticism of its actions,” Griffen said. “Far from emboldening terrorism, such criticism provides a public service by allowing Chinese citizens to debate policies the government is conducting in their name.”
He added: “We call on Chinese authorities to renew Ms. Gauthier’s press credentials and allow her to continue reporting from China. More generally, we ask the authorities not to use the threat of visa revocations or denials as a censorship tactic.”
Gauthier is said to be the first foreign journalist expelled from China since authorities declined to renew the visa of Melissa Chan, a correspondent for Al Jazeera English, in 2012. China had previously delayed granting visas to a number of correspondents for The New York Times and Bloomberg after both outlets scrutinised tremendous wealth amassed by family members of Chinese leaders.
