Global human rights organizations have issued a joint warning after Chinese police arrested Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao, two independent journalists who investigated corruption involving senior officials in Sichuan province. They described the arrests as a dangerous sign for media freedom in China. Meanwhile, police stated the two are under investigation for "defamation" and "engaging in illegal business activities."
Chinese Human Rights Defenders and activists reported that Liu Hu, a nationally renowned investigative journalist, and his colleague Wu Yingjiao were detained by police on Sunday, 1 Feb 2024, shortly after they published reports exposing corruption among high-ranking officials in Sichuan province.
Liu Hu disappeared while about to board a train from Chongqing to Beijing, whereas Wu Yingjiao was detained by police in Hebei province the same day. The initial report, now removed from the WeChat platform, detailed the bankruptcy of several businesses caused by misconduct by a district-level official.
Chengdu police issued a statement on Monday saying the two men, surnamed Liu, aged 50, and Wu, aged 34, are under investigation for "fabricating false evidence to defame others" and "conducting illegal business operations."
However, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed that before his arrest, Liu Hu posted a message he received from disciplinary officials in Chengdu, who pressured him to engage directly with authorities instead of publicly exposing corruption through the media.
Liu Hu is considered one of China’s leading investigative journalists and was previously detained in 2013 on defamation charges after exposing corruption among senior officials. After his release in 2014, he continued independent journalism via social media, with Wu Yingjiao serving as his primary assistant managing a WeChat account that aggregates news from various reporters.
Alexandra Belakowska, RSF’s campaign manager, stated, "This arrest reflects how hostile and restrictive the environment in China has become for independent journalism. We urge the international community to increase pressure on the Chinese government rather than allow normal relations to inadvertently support media repression."
RSF currently reports that over 120 journalists are imprisoned in China, dubbing it "the world’s largest jail for journalists." The Beijing government has yet to issue an official comment regarding the arrests or the international criticism surrounding this case.
/sourceBBC