In the statement, NRTA of China claims that BBC World News broadcast reports on China that ‘violate the principles of truth and impartiality in journalism’.
On February 4, the Chinese Foreign Ministry made a serious representation to the BBC, criticizing the broadcaster for its coverage of China’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and dismissing their reports as ‘fake news’.
“We are disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to pursue this action. The BBC is the world’s most trusted international news broadcaster and reports fairly, impartially and without fear or favor on stories from around the world, ” a BBC spokesperson told CNN Business in a statement.
Beijing has also repeatedly expressed its frustration with the BBC reporting on China’s “re-education” camps for Uyghurs. The BBC claims that women have been systematically raped, sexually abused and tortured in the camps. China accuses the BBC of “being on a rampage to spread explicit lies about China’s policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.”
The BBC at the time defended its journalism in a statement, saying it stood by its accurate and fair coverage of events in China.
It is unclear how much impact China’s ban on BBC World News will have on the country. The BBC may never broadcast on mainland China or in Chinese homes. BBC World News has never been available in international hotels.