Media Groups Fret Over Hong Kong Journalist's Disappearance in China
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) voiced concern on Monday over reports of Chen's disappearance. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urged Beijing to immediately disclose Chen's whereabouts and release him if he's been arrested.
Similarly, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed concern and demanded Chinese authorities reveal Chen's location and ensure his safety.
Kyodo News reported on Thursday that Chen, who covered defense and foreign policy for the South China Morning Post, had gone missing following a visit to Beijing to cover the Xiangshan Forum. Sources close to the matter expressed concerns that Chen might be under investigation by mainland authorities.
The South China Morning Post stated that Chen was on leave. His family informed the newspaper that he was in Beijing, but needed time to handle personal matters. They requested respect for Chen's privacy.
The Post noted, "The safety of our journalists in the course of their work is of utmost importance to the South China Morning Post. This has always been our policy." The paper also added that it would continue communicating with Chen's family for support.
When asked about the report by Kyodo News, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said he was unaware of it. The Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed deep concern for Chen's safety and sought more information from the South China Morning Post.
Chen is a renowned journalist in Hong Kong and internationally known for his insightful reporting on Chinese military developments. He joined the South China Morning Post in 2005, which is Hong Kong's leading English-language daily newspaper, owned by Alibaba.
Recent high-profile arrests of journalists on the Chinese mainland have sparked concerns about their safety and whereabouts. Critics have long raised concerns over secret trials and extrajudicial detentions. Cheng Lei, an Australian TV host, was released by the Chinese government in October 2022, over three years after being detained due to vague espionage charges.
China ranks 179th out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, making it the world's biggest abductor of journalists and defenders of press freedom. At least 121 individuals have been arrested.
(Sources: Reporters Without Borders Enrichment Data and news reports such as edition.cnn.com)
