By Chrystie Lam Haa-iu and Kacee Ting Wong

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) reportedly criticised China’s quarantine policies during the pandemic which were implemented solely to protect the health of everyone in its territory. In fact, be them locals or foreigners, one must abide by the epidemic regulations. Experts from the World Health Organization were likewise subject to a 14-day quarantine when they entered China. Thus, the FCCC’s report is plainly irresponsible, defamatory and unfair to both China and foreigners.

The report also advanced groundless allegations that the freedom of press of foreign correspondents had been restricted in China. As a matter of fact, China has all along implemented the fundamental national policy of openness to the international community and welcomed media and journalists from various countries to engage in lawful news reporting activities in China and provide necessary convenience and assistance.

During the reopening of Wuhan, China organised more than 20 group interviews involving over 300 foreign correspondents. These solid facilitations and assistance provided by China to foreign media are well-documented and backed by numerous news reports.

Therefore, the FCCC report is full of falsity, misleading information and untrue allegations about the press environment in China. China has always been committed to building an open, transparent, and safe reporting environment respecting the legitimate rights and interests of foreign media. This is an important manifestation of China’s dedicated policy of promoting openness and civilised cultural exchange. Foreign media and journalists shall report on China objectively and fairly to build a constructive relationship between China and the international community.

The Unofficial FCCC cannot represent the journalists in China

Not being an officially-recognized organization, FCCC simply cannot represent China-based correspondents. Indeed, FCCC is an unlawful society neither approved by the Chinese government nor had its legitimacy ever recognized.

The members of such an organization do not cover half of all foreign correspondents based in China. Basically, it only represents a small circle of journalists from a few European countries and the US. Worse still, the so-called “statements” issued by the FCCC may be drawn up by some so-called “officers” and sometimes even issued under the organization’s title without the prior consent of other correspondents.

The FCCC’s statements are full of exaggerations and falsehoods. The organization all along neglected China’s invaluable assistance and support to foreign correspondents’ work in China but from time to time baselessly attacked China’s reporting environment as deteriorating. Ironically, the organization failed to warn or condemn the large number of false reports made by BBC correspondent John Sudworth but instead endorsed its misconduct. Such conduct is a complete disregard of the truth and basic media ethics.

FCCC purportedly relied on the few-month validity period of John Sudworth’s press certificate to allege the deterioration of the reporting environment of foreign correspondents. In fact, amongst some 500 foreign correspondents in China (including some members of the FCCC), most of them have a press certificate valid for one year. In addition, many foreign correspondents have lived and worked in China for over one to three decades. As such, the FCCC’s statement is a distortion of facts and slander.

Lastly, FCCC members should be well aware that the visa of all foreign correspondents based in the US are only valid for 3 months and they need to re-submit their visa applications every 3 months with an extra fee of US$455. By contrast, foreign correspondents in China enjoyed quite a more favourable treatment. The FCCC’s criticisms against China are obviously unfair and groundless.

The organization’s statements are full of lies and distortion. For instance, it claimed that Sudworth was ‘expelled’ like the 18 US journalists last year. In fact, China’s treatment of Sudworth was lawful and reasonable. Indeed, it cannot be clearer on the rights and wrongs of Sino-US journalist issues last year. Driven by the political motive of suppressing China, the US refused or delayed the visa application of more than 20 Chinese correspondents without reason, and expelled more than 60 Chinese journalists. China has the right to make a legitimate and necessary response. The untrue and misleading approach of such a statement is disgusting.

The FCCC’s statement is chilling. The statement claimed that Sudworth’s departure will cause a loss of the outside world’s effort to understand China, which is nothing but nonsense. Sudwort’s false reports and malicious slanders have already brought huge loss to China whilst his departure can allow the outside world to have a more objective, truthful and clearer understanding of the country.

No country could tolerate people who maliciously fabricate and spread false information to bring negative impacts upon itself, and China is certainly not an exception. The handling of Sudworth is just the beginning of justice being served and it’s believed that China will not tolerate anyone violating China’s dignity and interests in whatever manner.

Truth revealed: FCCC report is grossly inaccurate

Javier García worked for the internationally renowned Spanish news agency EFE and was well experienced in reporting in Palestine, Venezuela, Germany, China and other countries. Differentiating himself from his Western counterparts, in September 2021, García posted 14 “tweets” on “Twitter” announcing that he would give up his three-decade journalism career. “The annoying anti-China information war has almost exhausted my aspirations on journalism,” he said.

Revealing that the FCCC’s report was inaccurate, Gracia’s report again exposed the true colour of the organization and its members. Claiming to protect the rights and interests of foreign correspondents in China, FCCC is in fact a notorious anti-China organization.

Garcia revealed that about 70% to 80% of FCCC members come from the English-language media in the US and the UK whose narratives about China are basically negative. Media in other western countries basically follow the lead of those British and American media, namely the former setting the agenda and calibre of Chinese reports and the latter merely follow.

Garcia’s words unmasked the true face of the FCCC which not only defended foreign correspondents making biased reports on China, but was possibly manipulated by foreign governments. FCCC is a representative of Western anti-China forces and none of its members is friendly to China. These people fabricate facts and spread rumours against China’s interests and image. Their behaviour has reached the critical point of damaging China’s image and dignity in a serious violation of Chinese sovereignty and people’s national sentiments.

These reports demonstrate the prejudice and injustice of the FCCC and its members, damaging their image and reputation in China. The organization and its members are urged to treat China with an objective and fair attitude, pay due respect Chinese sovereignty and dignity, and report on China in an accurate and proper manner.

Chrystie Lam Haa-iu is director of labour and welfare affairs, Chinese Dream Think Tank, Research assistant of Chambers of Kacee Ting and founder of the Coalition of Global Home Service Sustainable Development.

Kacee Ting Wong is a barrister, part-time researcher of Shenzhen University Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law Research Center, and chairman of the chinese Dream Think Tank.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

【CDTT Newspaper Article】Chrystie Lam Haa-iu and Kacee Ting Wong：FCCC’s defamation and smearing against China violates media ethics (Dot Dot News, 10 Aug 2023)

https://english.dotdotnews.com/a/202308/10/AP64d4b27ee4b032961556ca47.html

Chinese Dream Think Tank is a non-profit Hong Kong-based organization working with skilled volunteers, experts and professionals who are passionate about telling the China story well.

This article is reproduced by Kwun Media with the consent of Dot Dot News.

中國夢智庫｜ 駐華外國記者協會（FCCC）充滿偏見，無端造謠抹黑中國

駐華外國記者協會（FCCC）曾在報導中批評中國在應對疫情中實行的隔離政策。然而，這些政策是為了保護所有身在中國的人，無論他們是中國本地人還是外國人，都必須遵守防疫規定。就連世界衛生組織的專家來華也要接受14天隔離。因此，駐華外國記者協會的報導是不負責任、誹謗性的，無論對中國還是外國人都不公平。

駐華外國記者協會(FCCC)發佈的報告聲稱，在華外國記者的新聞自由受到限制，這種說法是歪曲事實、混淆是非。實際上，中國一直實行對外開放的基本國策，並歡迎各國媒體和記者在中國合法從事新聞採訪工作，並提供必要的便利和協助。

在新冠肺炎疫情期間，中方克服多重挑戰，積極協助100多位滯留國外的外國新聞從業人員及其家屬返華；協助記者有序進入北京新發地疫情核酸檢測點、北京市疫苗接種點等地進行採訪，並多方協調。中方還積極協調外國媒體對疫苗研發進展和武漢病毒研究所相關人員的採訪，並組織外國媒體參與武漢疫情解封和世界衛生組織專家來華相關採訪活動。

僅在武漢解封期間，中方就組織了20多場外國媒體記者的集體採訪，參與的外國媒體記者有300多人次。這些都是中方為外國媒體提供的實實在在、有據可查、有報導為證的採訪便利與協助。

因此，FCCC的報告充滿了錯誤和誤導性訊息，並對中國的採訪環境作出了不實的指控。中國一直致力於構建開放、透明、安全的採訪環境，並尊重外國媒體的合法權益，這是中國對外開放和文明交流的重要體現，外國媒體和記者應當客觀公正地報導中國，增進中外之間的相互了解和友誼。

駐華外國記者協會非中國官方認可組織，不能代表駐華記者立場

駐華外國記者協會(FCCC)並非獲得中國官方承認的組織，因此不能代表所有駐華記者。實際上，FCCC是一個未經中國政府批准的非法組織，中方從未承認其合法性。

該組織的成員並不覆蓋所有駐華外國記者的一半，實際上，它僅基本上代表了歐美幾個國家的記者小圈子。即便如此，每次FCCC發表的所謂“聲明”，也可能只是一些所謂“理事”自行擬定的，有時候甚至未經其他記者的事先知情就代表整個組織發表聲明。

該組織忽略了中方對外國記者在中國進行採訪工作所提供的大量幫助和支持，卻不時批評中國的採訪環境惡化；同時，對BBC記者沙磊的大量虛假報導沒有提出警告或批評，反而為其不當行為背書。這種做法完全忽視了事實和基本原則。

FCCC所發表的聲明充滿著誇大和不實的說辭。該組織經常批評中國的採訪環境惡化，卻完全忽略了中方對外國記者在中國進行採訪工作所提供的大量幫助和支持。同時，對於BBC記者沙磊的大量虛假報導，FCCC沒有提出批評，反而為其不當行為背書。這種做法是對事實和道德的嚴重忽視。

FCCC聲稱BBC記者沙磊的記者證只有幾個月的有效期，認為這反映了外國記者工作環境惡化。然而，實際上，近500多位外國記者在中國的記者證有效期大多為一年，包括FCCC的一些成員。此外，許多外國記者已經在中國生活、工作了十幾年，甚至30年以上。FCCC的聲明是對事實的歪曲和詆毀。

最後，FCCC成員應該清楚，所有中國駐美國記者的簽證有效期都只有3個月，而且每隔3個月就需要重新遞交簽證申請，每次都要多付455美元的費用。相比之下，外國記者在中國的處境應該算是相對幸運。FCCC對中國的批評顯然是不公平和無端的攻擊。

該協會的聲明充滿了謊言和歪曲事實的言論。該協會聲稱“沙磊和去年18名美國記者一樣‘被驅逐’”，實際上，中方對沙磊的處理是合法、合理的。更何況，去年中美媒體記者問題的是非曲直，是非常明確的。美方出於打壓中國的政治目的，無故拒絕或延遲20多名中方記者的赴美簽證，並驅逐了中方60多名記者。中方不得不做出正當和必要的反應。該聲明的不實和混淆視聽的做法令人不齒。

FCCC的聲明令人不寒而栗。該聲明聲稱“沙磊離開將造成外界理解中國努力的損失”，實在是胡說八道。沙磊的虛假報導和惡意造謠已經給中國帶來了巨大的損失，他的離開反而可以讓外界對中國的了解更加客觀真實、清朗。

相信世界上任何一個國家，都不會容忍那些惡意編造、散佈虛假資訊的人為自己國家帶來負面影響。中國當然也不例外。沙磊的走向只是正義得以伸張的開始，讓我們相信，中國不會容忍任何人以任何方式侵犯中國的尊嚴和利益。

外媒記者爆料：FCCC報導失實

哈威爾·加西亞曾經供職於國際知名的西班牙通訊社埃菲社，並在巴勒斯坦、委內瑞拉、德國、中國等多個國家長期工作。然而，與其他西方媒體記者不同的是，2021年9月，他在社交網站推特上發佈了14條帖文，宣佈自己將放棄從事30餘年的新聞工作事業。他表示：“令人厭煩的反華‘資訊戰’幾乎耗盡了我的新聞職業理想。”

外媒記者加西亞爆料指出FCCC報導失實，這再次揭露了FCCC及其成員的真實面目。FCCC號稱維護外國駐華記者的權益，實際上卻是一個臭名昭著的反華組織。

加西亞透露，FCCC成員中有大約70%~80%的人來自美國和英國的英文媒體，而這些英美媒體對於中國的敘述基本上是負面的。其他的西方國家媒體，則基本上是跟著這些英美媒體走的，即先由英美媒體設置對華報導的議題和口徑，然後其他的歐洲媒體再自動跟隨這種議題和口徑去報導。

加西亞的爆料揭露了FCCC的真實面目，它不僅維護那些偏頗報導中國的外媒記者，還背後可能有外國政府的操控。FCCC是西方反華勢力的代表，它的成員們沒有一個是真正的中國友好人士。這些人總是捏造事實，散佈謠言，毫不顧及中國的利益和形象。他們的行為已經達到了破壞中國形象和尊嚴的地步，是對中國主權和民族感情的嚴重侵犯。

這些揭露顯示出FCCC及其成員的偏見和不公正，而這損害了他們在中國的形象和聲譽。FCCC及其成員應該以客觀、公正的態度對待中國，尊重中國的主權和尊嚴，並且正確報導中國的事實。

文：林夏瑤
《中國夢智庫》勞工及福利事務總監
丁煌大律師行法律研究助理
國際家政服務業持續發展聯會創辦人

文：丁煌
深圳大學基本法研究中心兼職研究員
經民聯港島支部主席，「中國夢智庫」主席
城市智庫成員
國際公益法律服務協會顧問委員會成員
全國港澳研究會會員

《中國夢智庫》是一間扎根特區的非牟利團體；與心存熱誠的資深義工、專家與職業專業人士們合作，攜手「說好中國故事」。

*作者文章觀點，不代表《觀新聞》立場