‘Very disappointed’
Foreign journalists in China are required to hold government-issued cards identifying them as accredited journalists when covering news events.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China called on the authorities to protect the “right to safety and report” of all foreign journalists in the country.
“The FCCC is deeply dismayed and dismayed by the increasing constraints on foreign journalists working in China and the aggressiveness shown towards them by the police,” it said in a statement.
UK Business Minister Grant Shapps echoed that sentiment.
“What is certainly unacceptable is for journalists who should have every right to cover things freely to be caught and involved and in fact arrested and I know this morning the Foreign Office and There will be cause for concern elsewhere.” he told LBC Radio.
In a statement before the Chinese ministry’s comment, the BBC said it had not been given a credible explanation for Lawrence’s detention.
“We have had no official explanation or apology from the Chinese authorities, beyond a claim by the officers, who later released them, that they arrested them for their own good in case they caught COVID from the crowd.” did,” it said.
