China expels French reporter who questioned terrorism

[rooster59]

China expels French reporter who questioned terrorism

DIDI TANG, Associated Press


BEIJING (AP) — China said Saturday that it will not renew press credentials for a French journalist, effectively expelling her following a harsh media campaign against her for questioning the official line equating ethnic violence in China's western Muslim region with global terrorism.

Expecting the move, Ursula Gauthier, a longtime journalist for the French news magazine L'Obs, said late Friday night that she was prepared to leave China.

Once she departs on Dec. 31, she will become the first foreign journalist forced to leave China since 2012, when American Melissa Chan, then working for Al Jazeera in Beijing, was expelled.

"They want a public apology for things that I have not written," Gauthier said. "They are accusing me of writing things that I have not written."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that Gauthier was no longer "suitable" to be allowed to work in China because she had supported "terrorism and cruel acts" that killed civilians and refused to apologize for her words.

"China has always protected the legal rights of foreign media and foreign correspondents to report within the country, but China does not tolerate the freedom to embolden terrorism," Lu said in a statement.

Gauthier on Saturday called the accusations "absurd," and said that emboldening terrorism is morally and legally wrong. She said that she should be prosecuted if that were the case.

"All this is rhetoric," Gauthier said. "It's only meant to deter foreign correspondents in the future in Beijing."

In a statement Friday, the French foreign ministry said: "We regret that the visa of Madame Ursula Gauthier was not renewed. France recalls the importance of the role journalists play throughout the world."

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China said the accusation that Gauthier supports terrorism "is a particularly egregious personal and professional affront with no basis in fact." It said it was "appalled" by the decision, and expressed concerns that Beijing was using the accreditation and visa process to threaten foreign journalists.

"The FCCC views this matter as a most serious development and a grave threat to the ability of foreign correspondents to work in China," it said in a statement.

The fallout began with Gauthier's Nov. 18 article, shortly after the attacks in Paris. She wrote that Beijing's proclaimed solidarity with Paris is not without ulterior motives, as Beijing seeks international support for its assertion that the ethnic violence in its Muslim region of Xinjiang is part of global terrorism.

Gauthier wrote that some of the violent attacks in Xinjiang involving members of the minority Uighur community appeared to be homegrown, with no evidence of foreign ties — an observation that has been made by numerous foreign experts on security and on Xinjiang's ethnic policies and practices.

Advocacy groups have argued that the violence is more likely to be a response to Beijing's suppressive policies in Xinjiang.

Beijing blames the violence on terrorism with foreign ties. Amid a counterterrorism campaign, a Xinjiang court last year sentenced a Uighur (pronounced WEE-gur) scholar critical of China's ethnic policies in Xinjiang to life in prison. This month, a Beijing court convicted a prominent lawyer of fanning ethnic hatred based on his comments that Beijing should rethink its Xinjiang policies.

In her article, Gauthier focused on a deadly mine attack in a remote region of Xinjiang, which she described as more likely an act by Uighurs against mine workers of the majority Han ethnic group over what the Uighurs perceived as mistreatment, injustice and exploitation.

The article quickly drew stern criticism from state media and China's government.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Western media for using double standards in reporting on the violence.

"Why is terrorism in other countries called terrorist actions, but it turns out to be ethnic and religious issues in China?" ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing on Dec. 2.

By then, state media had launched an abusive and intimidating campaign against Gauthier, accusing her of having deep prejudice against China and having hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

On Friday, Gauthier said that the Foreign Ministry demanded her to apologize for "hurting Chinese people's feelings with wrong and hateful actions and words," and to publicly state that she recognizes that there have been terrorist attacks in and outside Xinjiang.

She said she was also asked to distance herself from any support group that presents her case as infringement of press freedom in China.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-27

[spidermike007]

Expect to see a lot more of this in the years to come, within China. The CCP are some of the most thin skinned men on earth. Their absolute authoritarian rule cannot be questioned. Investigative reporting, with any teeth at all, will not be allowed, nor tolerated by Jinping the hardline dictator. They are hellbent of prosecuting every ethnic minority, and every religion they cannot understand, to the point of labeling them terrorists, and labeling a journalist who is questioning the treatment of them as aiding a terrorist organization. They are desperate. They will do anything to maintain their power. It is only beginning. The CCP is going to be the major thorn in the side of the planet for the next 50 years or so. They will probably not declare war. But, they will engage in provocations like they are currently doing in the South China Sea, an area where they have no legal or legitimate claims, whatsoever, however they are able to flex their muscles, so why not, as they think?

[oneday]

"...accusing her of having deep prejudice against China and having hurt the feelings of the Chinese people..."

I just love how repressive governments like to speak for all the people in their country. This, of course, is something easy to do when the people in the country are not actually allowed to speak their minds so we don't REALLY know how they feel. Humm, where have I seen this recently?

[klauskunkel]

Gauthier wrote that some of the violent attacks in Xinjiang involving members of the minority Uighur community appeared to be homegrown, with no evidence of foreign ties — an observation that has been made by numerous foreign experts on security and on Xinjiang's ethnic policies and practices.

However, it also appears that Uighurs are exporting their terrorism to other countries (Thailand, Indonesia)...so, even if they are all homegrown in China as the experts observed, they apparently do not restrict themselves to China alone. Therefore they have become international terrorists, q.e.d.

Or, am I wrong?

[Rancid]

Uighurs are reportedly fighting in Syria after getting training in NATO member and ISIS supporter Turkey.

Muslim whackos seem to be a proxy military force used against various countries. Appears both China & Russia are concerned that hardened jihadists might be getting sent their way next.

As such the reporters article might not have been well received. China has never had a reputation for press freedom, but in all fairness the press in the west is used as a propaganda tool, so no high horse there.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts removed.

[Enoon]

Gauthier wrote that some of the violent attacks in Xinjiang involving members of the minority Uighur community appeared to be homegrown, with no evidence of foreign ties — an observation that has been made by numerous foreign experts on security and on Xinjiang's ethnic policies and practices.

However, it also appears that Uighurs are exporting their terrorism to other countries (Thailand, Indonesia)...so, even if they are all homegrown in China as the experts observed, they apparently do not restrict themselves to China alone. Therefore they have become international terrorists, q.e.d.

Or, am I wrong?

The journalist was pointing out that the Uighurs are engaged in a regional struggle (against Chinese domination) that has been going on since the 18th century:

"The Qing dynasty conquered Moghulistan in the 18th century.^[33] It invaded Dzungaria in 1759 and dominated it until 1864. The territory was renamed Xinjiang, soon after the Qing invasion of the Dzungars. "Historians estimate that a million people were slaughtered, and the land so devastated that it took a generation for it to recover."^[34]During this period, the Uyghurs revolted 42 times against Qing Dynasty rulers"

The Chinese seek to brand them as part of an international conspiracy to create an Islamic superstate (which they are not).

Thus undermining, what would seem to many, an entirely legitimate cause.

They use contentious language and specious argument to strengthen their case. Your pedantry serves them well.

[Srikcir]

In 2014 China ranked 175 out of 180 nations on the Press Freedom Index as "least free."

Hardly a nation that deserves sympathy for blaiming minorites for terrorism as it crushes them beneath a tsunami of repression.

[Wilsonandson]

In 2014 China ranked 175 out of 180 nations on the Press Freedom Index as "least free."

Hardly a nation that deserves sympathy for blaiming minorites for terrorism as it crushes them beneath a tsunami of repression.

Wave.jpg

I understand your opinion but was the photo really necessary.

[Publicus]

"Why is terrorism in other countries called terrorist actions, but it turns out to be ethnic and religious issues in China?" ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing on Dec. 2.

The occupied populations of Tibet and XinJiang are not terrorists, that is why.

PLA marched in 65 years ago to bring 'civilisation' to each of 'em. CCP has been marching 'civilisation' through both of 'em since. That the populations there are ungrateful and resentful is understood and supported.

The Han have taken control and ownership of both places. Those who object get oppressed, censored, repressed, punished.

Nothing good or sustainable has ever come from a one party state.

[SiSePuede419]

"The Han have taken control and ownership of both places."

The Han are 92% of the population. They drove the Dai minority out of China and into Thailand/Laos/Vietnam hundreds of years ago. The Dai are the largest minority in China, still.

And the Dai (Thai) people are so Proud of their Chinese heritage.

5555+

[Tom Cahill]

Uighurs are reportedly fighting in Syria after getting training in NATO member and ISIS supporter Turkey.

Muslim whackos seem to be a proxy military force used against various countries. Appears both China & Russia are concerned that hardened jihadists might be getting sent their way next.

As such the reporters article might not have been well received. China has never had a reputation for press freedom, but in all fairness the press in the west is used as a propaganda tool, so no high horse there.

Come on mate, Russia and China aren't scared of anyone attacking them. They may well be scared of the Evil Empire sending them to places like Thailand to undermine them there. Yes, I agree, they do expect the White/Jewish Devil to come after them soon and they're probably very worried as they're never going to have a chance when this does happen.

You can't really get terrorism from abroad in China as you need to carry documents everywhere. You can't just go about any business without being checked. If you're on a fraud Israeli forged passport, they can't turn you awayas they're in bed with them, but you'd not get far doing any terrorism as the people there are brain dead morons but they're very wise to these things in terms of if a foreigner turns up, they'll have them dead in no time. I do find them disgusting, but you have to give them some credit. If there's a perceived threat, they will kill it, even if it's someone's poodle. I'm very glad I don't live in that sh*t hole, I can tell you that now.