CHINA: Foreign ministry questions journalists about Tibet reports

In brief: Official accuses two foreign journalists of 'unacceptable' reporting

By Melissa Wang
AsiaMedia Staff Writer

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Two journalists were summoned separately by the Chinese foreign ministry and warned about their reporting from Tibet, according to a statement from Reporters Without Borders. Harald Maass, the China correspondent of the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau, and Tim Johnson, the China correspondent for the American newspaper chain McClatchy, were questioned by Zhang Lizhoang, a division director at the Foreign Ministry's information department on May 15.

Johnson recounted the incident on his web blog, in which he compared his experiences with the Foreign Ministry to "getting sent to the principal's office for bad behavior." He wrote that the Chinese official told him his visit to Tibet was against regulations and that his reporting was "unacceptable" to the Chinese government.

Reporters Without Borders says that Maass was told that he is allowed to travel to Tibet, but only with authorization from the ministry in Lhasa. Zhang then accused Maas of "distorting facts and violating journalist standards," according to the advocacy group.

Johnson wrote that during his stay in Tibet, security guards followed him frequently and people with whom he had contact were subject to interrogation and fines. His reporting was about the climbing season for Mount Everest. The police in Tibet prevented Maass from traveling to the city of Shigatse, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Date Posted: 5/31/2007