BEIJING (AP) – China is complaining again about recent BBC reports, days after summoning the British ambassador to Beijing to register discontent with a recent article she wrote in defense of press freedom.
The Chinese embassy in London published a statement on its website on Thursday, saying it had written to the BBC expressing “strong dissatisfaction” and asking the broadcaster to “abandon prejudice, correct its error and denounce China objectively, fairly and balanced “.
On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ambassador Caroline Wilson because of her article posted on the Chinese embassy’s microblog, in which she said that critical reporting on China did not imply hatred or disrespect for the country itself. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that Wilson’s article reflected his “ingrained ideological prejudices”.
The criticism reflects deep Chinese rage both on the BBC’s reporting on sensitive issues, such as the coronavirus outbreak and abuses against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, and on the British government’s decision to pave the way for residence and eventual citizenship for millions of Hong Kong.
Last month, China banned the BBC from a small number of hotels, residential complexes and offices where it had been shown, in apparent retaliation for its reporting on the revocation by China and Britain of the license of the Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.
Britain condemned China’s crackdown on civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong, which accelerated with last year’s imposition of a comprehensive national security law and measures by the Chinese parliament to eliminate even the possibility of critics. government to run for public office in the semi-autonomous city.
Many activists were arrested and accused of violating the law, while freedom of speech and assembly were severely restricted, apparently betraying China’s commitment to allow Hong Kong to maintain its own social, political and legal systems for 50 years after the 1997 transfer to Chinese domain.
In its letter, the Chinese Embassy highlighted a BBC Radio 4 report entitled “The Dragon of Disinformation” that aired on Tuesday. The report made “unfounded accusations against China on issues related, among others, to information, COVID-19 and diplomacy”.
“China has always been a country of ownership and deeply values harmony. We were never the ones who initiated provocations and we have no intention of intervening in the internal affairs of other countries. It is the others who continue to meddle in our internal affairs and defame China, “said the letter.
In his criticism of Wilson’s article, Zhao said that China had declared her “her solemn position on the relevant issue”.
“Ambassador Wilson’s article, with confusing logic, avoids all the facts, including British media misinformation and false reports about China,” said Zhao.
He accused Wilson of ignoring the supposed suppression of Chinese media in the West and of praising “the so-called Western experience in an arrogant tone” and making “irresponsible comments about China’s system and media”.
Wilson responded on Twitter, writing: “I keep my article. Undoubtedly, the Chinese ambassador who is leaving the United Kingdom defends the more than 170 pieces that he was free to put in the mainstream British media. “