[News]China bans the broadcast of the BBC's international news channel in the country

[SougarLord]

 

The authorities of the Asian country announced on Thursday the suspension of the broadcast of BBC World News, arguing that it has "seriously" violated its national regulations.

 

The National Administration of Radio and Television of the Asian giant, the organism that regulates the mass media, indicated that the BBC has not fulfilled "the requirements to emit in China".

 

The decision comes after the Chinese government's criticism of BBC reporting on the coronavirus and the persecution of the Uighur ethnic minority in Xinjiang, which Beijing denies.

 

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It also comes shortly after the UK media regulator revoked the license to the state-owned Chinese channel CGTN, concluding that the ruling Communist Party had ultimate editorial responsibility for the channel.

 

Then, the Chinese government warned that it reserved the right to take the corresponding measures.

"Unacceptable decision"

The State Administration of Film, Radio and Television of China said in a statement that it concluded that BBC World News' content on China "had seriously violated" its regulations, including "the requirement that news must be truthful and fair" and " not harm China's national interests. "

 

Therefore, it communicated that the request to issue another year in China would not be accepted.

In a statement, the BBC was "disappointed": "The BBC is the most trusted news network in the world and reports stories around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favor."

BBC World News is broadcast globally in English, although access to it is severely restricted in China, only reaching international hotels and some diplomatic complexes, so most Chinese citizens cannot see it.

 

 

The broadcast, as with other international channels, was subject to strict censorship and the signal usually went black when the channel dealt with a sensitive issue for the government, such as alleged human rights violations.

 

UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called China's decision "an unacceptable restriction on press freedom."

 

China’s decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. China has some of the most severe restrictions on media & internet freedoms across the globe, & this latest step will only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world.

 

- Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 11, 2021

"China has some of the world's toughest restrictions on internet and press freedom, and this latest step will only damage China's reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world," he said.

 

The US State Department also condemned the decision, noting that it is part of a larger campaign to end press freedom in the country.

 

The relationship between China and the United Kingdom has been strained in recent months by Hong Kong, after the approval of the controversial National Security Law by Beijing and the new visa announced by London to welcome Hong Kongers as residents, considering that they are undermining your freedoms.