Press release

Media freedom in China: statement from Media Freedom Coalition members

Members of the Media Freedom Coalition gave a statement about the recent sentencing of Zhang Zhan in China.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Media Freedom Coalition members statement:

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their strong concerns about the recent sentencing of Zhang Zhan to four years in prison following her reporting on COVID-19 in Wuhan earlier in 2020.

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to curtail media freedom, an essential element of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In total, there are currently believed to be at least 47 journalists in detention in China, more than any other country in the world.

We urge the Chinese authorities to release immediately Ms. Zhang Zhan, and all those detained in connection with their reporting.

We also urge the Chinese authorities to allow journalists to practice their profession without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisal, and to end extensive censorship and control over the media and wider freedom of expression.

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Updates to this page

Published 20 January 2021