What happens in China stays in China?

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-260214.html



What happens in China stays in China?
By Curtis S Chin
Feb 26, '14

DENPASAR, INDONESIA - It is unclear whether China will be welcoming to media reports that don't quite fit the official storyline of its chairmanship this year of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. As part of its role, China will host a series of APEC meetings and supporting events throughout 2014.

US journalist Austin Ramzy was forced to leave China in January ostensibly for visa reasons, but perhaps this was more a pointed signal to others who wish to report on issues such as corruption. There is also the continued imprisonment in China, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, of more than 30 local reporters, editors and bloggers.

It seems this year is shaping up to be a dangerous one for media in Asia. In early February, local journalist Suon Chan was killed in Cambodia after having reported on illegal fishing activities near his village. A veteran foreign journalist and author, Dave Walker, has gone missing in the same country. Meanwhile in the Philippines, justice has yet to be fully served in the more than 70 cases of murdered journalists since 1992, including that of my friend, radio commentator Jerry Ortega.

Even in Hong Kong and the United States, press freedoms weakened considerably this past year. In the United States, according to Reporters Without Borders, there was a profound erosion of press freedom as the Obama administration focused on cracking down on whistleblowers.