Sensitive Areas And Topics
The government does not make public its list of censored or taboo topics, but if you are reporting on the following issues, geographic areas, people or groups, the risk of interference by officials or police will be high and you should assume you will be under observation.
TIBET
Despite statements that foreign journalists are free to travel anywhere in China, Tibet remains a special case, particularly in the wake of the spring 2008 unrest.
All foreigners require travel permits to go to Tibet, and journalists need to apply to the local Foreign Affairs Office for permission or go on a government-organized tour.
Even those who enter China on a tourist visa and travel to Tibet should assume they are being followed and the people they speak with could be at risk.
People you speak to, or your guide, could be detained or arrested – possibly after you leave — even for what may seem like relatively weak statements of discontent with or objection to Chinese rule.
This may also apply to Tibetan communities in neighboring provinces, such as Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan.
Please pay special attention to the precautions explained in the “Protecting your sources” and “Reporting and Traveling Safely” sections, given the high stakes that could be involved for your sources as a result of speaking with you.
XINJIANG
Many of the same issues apply in Xinjiang as in Tibet, although it is possible for foreigners, and generally for journalists, to travel there without a special permit.
OTHER SENSITIVE PLACES
Other areas that will be hard to get near, and heavily monitored if you do, are: military areas, “sensitive” border areas (e.g. with North Korea or Myanmar), mental hospitals, prisons, labor camps, space exploration facilities, courts dealing with human rights issues.
RECENT HOTSPOTS
A number of correspondents have been detained, intimidated or assaulted in a number of places, including in Beijing and Hebei province. In recent years, detentions and interference have also been frequent in areas of Henan with a high concentration of HIV-Aids patients, as well as locales experiencing land disputes, particularly over big projects such as the Three Gorges Dam. For more information see FCCC incident reports.
OTHER SENSITIVE ISSUES
- Sports or other scandals associated with the Olympics. It is generally hard to get this kind of information.
- Social problems linked to protests and unrest. This could include disputes over pollution, forced acquisition of land, crackdowns on HIV/AIDS patients or other petitioners with grievances against the government. Local authorities often try to stop foreign journalists from airing their dirty laundry. Several TV journalists reporting on pollution in 2007 say authorities intimidated their guide or sources, but unlike in similar situations in the past, did not confiscate their video.
- Corruption cases or critical reports involving senior political leaders or other well-connected people. It is difficult to get information, even for cases that have been through the courts.
- Dissidents. High-profile dissidents probably know the risks and have made a conscious decision about where to draw the line. Some dissidents believe international exposure protects them, but lesser-known dissidents are at greater risk of detention. In 2007 some reporters said they had freer access to some dissidents. But others were prevented or punished for speaking to foreign media and some said they were exercising greater self-censorship.
- Politically sensitive areas like censored historic periods (the Cultural Revolution) or elite political maneuvers. There is a risk of detention to sources who provide internal documents. If you are chasing this kind of information make sure there is no paper or electronic trail linking you to the person who will hand it over to you. Evidence provided at the trial of Zhao Yan included a hand-written note apparently from the New York Times office, underlining how broad the reach of the security sources are.
- Falun Gong spiritual group. There is a high risk for FLG followers, and the reliability of some FLG information outlets is questionable. They are also very quick to sue, if they feel they have been unfairly represented.
- Religion. Journalists report widely varying experiences in covering religion. Some report no interference even when reporting on underground churches known to be under watch. Others have experienced interference when reporting on government-recognized bodies.
- North Korean refugees. In March 2008, police searched the hotel room of a TV journalist and confiscated tapes from his safe after he had filmed North Korean refugees in Shenyang.
