Beijing Reminds Journalists: You'll Report What We Tell You
The Guardian reports Beijing’s security agency summoned international journalists in Hong Kong, delivering a blunt message not to 'cause trouble' after critical coverage of a deadly apartment fire. This isn't newfound Chinese authoritarianism; it’s a standard operating procedure perfected by colonial powers for centuries. The thinly veiled threat against 'smearing the government' is Beijing’s
polite way of saying dissent will not be tolerated, irrespective of facts. Such admonishments echo press freedom suppressions globally. For instance, the US government routinely pressures journalists regarding 'national security' leaks, as seen with Julian Assange. Similarly, politicians who profit from defense contracts often accuse media of undermining 'troop morale' when reporting on civilian
casualties. Transparency, it seems, is a luxury reserved for nations without something to hide—or without the power to suppress the messengers.