By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – China extended some of the rules that gave foreign reporters greater freedom during the Beijing Olympics.  The extension will allow more than 30,000 foreign journalists to continue travel freely across most of China for reporting, and interview Chinese citizens without government permission.

State news agency Xinhua said the temporary arrangement would become standard practice.  China’s Premier Wen Jiabao approved the new regulations after a day of silence on what would happen to one of the high-profile changes Beijing made as part of its efforts to host the August Games. Liu Jianchao, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, “This is not only a big step forward for China in opening up to the outside world, for the foreign journalists it’s also a big step.”

However, the media freedoms are not unlimited. Tibet is still closed to all foreigners and journalists.  Journalists must still apply for travel permits just as tourists do. Li Jianchao also warned that other areas of China may be designated off-bounds or temporarily closed after disasters.

The move has been welcomed by the main organization representing overseas media in China, Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China.  “If properly implemented, we believe this will mark a step forward in the opening of China’s media environment,” said Jonathan Watts, president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China.

Jonathan Watts also urged the government to ensure that police and local officials respect the freedoms and the new rule.  The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China said it had received reports of 336 complaints of interference since the rules were introduced in January 2007, including 67 cases of harassment and intimidation during the Olympic Games.

Seymour Topping, a well-known American journalist, sees the lifting of the restrictions as an important step for China.  “The more restrictions on foreign correspondents’ work are lifted, the better chance there is for the world to become fully aware of China’s accomplishments and what it is attempting to achieve,” the former Pulitzer Prize administrator said.  “China used to be too wary of foreign journalists, but now the rules allow them to decide who to talk to,” Huang Youyi, editor-in-chief of China International Publishing Group, added.

For more information, please see:

BBC – China’s Press Freedoms Extended – 18 October 2008

China Daily – Reporting Made Easier for Foreign Media – 20 October 2008

Human Rights Watch – China: Olympics-Related Media Freedoms Should Not Expire – 15 October 2008

Reporter without Borders – What Rights Will the Foreign Press Have? – 17 October 2008

Reuters – China Extends Media Freedom Rules at 11th Hour – 17 October 2008