World · East Asia & Pacific · 7 hrs ago
Chinese state security blocked journalist’s planned meeting with an old friend
A journalist who returned to China for a six-month assignment described a country that is both much richer and more closely monitored than before.
During a visit to Shanxi, a group organized by China Daily was asked to chant praise for China and the province on camera.
The journalist declined to join in.
Later, an old friend in Beijing said state security agents had come to his home and ordered him to cancel their planned meeting.
The journalist said the agents appeared to have learned of their plans.
He described a larger and more intrusive security system, aided by messaging apps and widespread surveillance cameras.
The account contrasts China’s modern cities and economic gains with a climate of suspicion, and gives no details of what happens next.
Chinese state security agents blocked a journalist’s planned meeting with an old friend in Beijing.
The friend said agents had come to his home and ordered him to cancel the meeting.
The journalist was visiting Shanxi on a trip organized by China Daily and planned to see his friend the next day.
The journalist said the incident made China seem less welcoming and more alarming.
He described a security apparatus that he said had grown larger and more capable of monitoring people.
- Who
- A journalist and his old friend, a lawyer in Beijing.
- What
- State security agents ordered the friend to cancel a planned meeting with the journalist.
- When
- The meeting was planned for the day after the journalist received his friend’s message; the exact date is not stated.
- Where
- The agents went to the friend’s home in Beijing. The journalist was visiting Taiyuan, Shanxi.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Every bush and every tree seems to hide an enemy soldier
The journalist studied classical Chinese in China.
The journalist worked as a journalist in China.
The journalist returned to China for a six-month assignment.
The friend messaged the journalist that state security agents had ordered him to cancel it.
- Friend’s city
- Beijing
- Journalist’s location
- Taiyuan, Shanxi
- Planned meeting
- The day after the friend sent his message
- Assignment
- Six months
- Trip organizer
- China Daily
Sources
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