Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says China has a “different system” when dealing with media, after Chinese local security guards tried to stop Australian reporters on an official delegation from leaving with footage from a Beijing tourist attraction.
Reporters travelled with an Australian embassy escort and written permission to film piece to camera elements for stories on Albanese’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.
SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson reported from Beijing that while crews from SBS, ABC, Sky News, Channel Nine, and Channel 7 were filming their content, local authorities approached them with queries about whether they possessed the necessary permissions.
About eight local security officials surrounded the group, stating they had to stay until police arrived and that they would need to hand over the footage they had collected.
A diplomat from Australia’s embassy managed to speak to the local authorities, but they continued to follow and encircle the group as it moved towards the bus.
The Australian journalists were surrounded and told they were not allowed to leave, before the Chinese security personnel began taking photos of the visiting press and demanding to take their camera equipment.
The delegation was later allowed to board a bus and leave after the security personnel stepped aside following further interventions from diplomats.
SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson is covering Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s China visit. Source: SBS News
Speaking to Australian reporters about the incident later this afternoon, Albanese said: “China has a different system obviously with the media.”
He said as the Australian prime minister, he was “paying his respects” to the media by fronting the press conference.
“Certainly I am here, being accountable. I came straight here, and going straight back.”
