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China expels French journalist for terrorism coverage China expels French journalist for terrorism coverage
(about 1 hour later)
China didn't like Ursula Gauthier's reporting — so it is kicking her out of the country.China didn't like Ursula Gauthier's reporting — so it is kicking her out of the country.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Saturday that the French journalist, a Beijing correspondent for French newsmagazine L’Obs, will be expelled from the country over an essay she wrote questioning the Chinese government's rhetoric on terrorism. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a written statement Saturday that the Beijing correspondent for French news magazine L’Obs would not be issued press credentials for 2016, effectively expelling her.
In a written statement, Lu Kang, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Gauthier was no longer "suitable" for her job in China and would not be issued press credentials for 2016.  Lu said Gauthier's reporting "emboldened" terrorists. Gauthier drew Beijing's ire country by writing an essay that questioned the Chinese government's rhetoric on terrorism.
In the statement, Lu Kang, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said Gauthier was no longer "suitable" for her job in China and that her reporting "emboldened" terrorists.
Chinese Foreign Ministry confirms expulsion of French journalist for her story on terrorism, more to follow pic.twitter.com/AMnljKvohd — CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 26, 2015Chinese Foreign Ministry confirms expulsion of French journalist for her story on terrorism, more to follow pic.twitter.com/AMnljKvohd — CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 26, 2015
Chinese Foreign Ministry confirms expulsion of French journalist for her story on terrorism, more to follow pic.twitter.com/AMnljKvohdChinese Foreign Ministry confirms expulsion of French journalist for her story on terrorism, more to follow pic.twitter.com/AMnljKvohd
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 26, 2015— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 26, 2015
Gauthier is the first foreign journalist to be expelled from China since 2012, when Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan was forced to leave after doing a series of stories on secret prisons. The New York Times and Bloomberg were also denied new journalist visas after publishing prize-winning stories about the wealth of China's top leaders and their families. (Both news organizations have since been issued new visas.) Gauthier is the first foreign journalist to be booted from China since 2012, when Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan was forced to leave after doing a series of stories on secret prisons. Journalists for the New York Times and Bloomberg News were also denied visas after publishing prize-winning stories about the wealth of China's top leaders and their families. (Both news organizations have since been issued new visas.)
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the French Embassy in Beijing have all expressed concern about the case.The Foreign Correspondents Club of China, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the French Embassy in Beijing have all expressed concern about the case.
Gauthier, a veteran journalist, has been in Beijing's crosshairs since November, when she wrote an essay about China's response to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.Gauthier, a veteran journalist, has been in Beijing's crosshairs since November, when she wrote an essay about China's response to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.
The piece suggested Beijing's expression of solidarity post-Paris attacks had "ulterior motives," namely a desire to get the international support for its claim that violence in China's Xinjing Uighur Autonomous Region is linked to a global war on terrorism.The piece suggested Beijing's expression of solidarity post-Paris attacks had "ulterior motives," namely a desire to get the international support for its claim that violence in China's Xinjing Uighur Autonomous Region is linked to a global war on terrorism.
Beijing maintains that violent unrest in Xinjiang is linked to international terrorist groups and often accuses foreign governments — and foreign reporters — of having a "double standard" on terrorism.Beijing maintains that violent unrest in Xinjiang is linked to international terrorist groups and often accuses foreign governments — and foreign reporters — of having a "double standard" on terrorism.
Many foreign scholars and rights groups say that what's happening in China's far northwest is less about global jihad than China's suppression of its Uighur population.Many foreign scholars and rights groups say that what's happening in China's far northwest is less about global jihad than China's suppression of its Uighur population.
Symptoms, root causes of terrorism should be addressed. Double standard shouldn't be allowed https://t.co/kpYOW2QSh7 pic.twitter.com/eXIOTzbNNJ — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 16, 2015Symptoms, root causes of terrorism should be addressed. Double standard shouldn't be allowed https://t.co/kpYOW2QSh7 pic.twitter.com/eXIOTzbNNJ — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 16, 2015
Symptoms, root causes of terrorism should be addressed. Double standard shouldn't be allowed https://t.co/kpYOW2QSh7 pic.twitter.com/eXIOTzbNNJSymptoms, root causes of terrorism should be addressed. Double standard shouldn't be allowed https://t.co/kpYOW2QSh7 pic.twitter.com/eXIOTzbNNJ
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 16, 2015— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 16, 2015
In the immediate aftermath of the Paris attacks, Chinese officials released details about a deadly attack at a coal mine in Xinjiang. China called it a coordinated terrorist attack; Gauthier's report suggested otherwise. What happened in Paris and what happened at the coal mine attacked had "nothing in common," she wrote.In the immediate aftermath of the Paris attacks, Chinese officials released details about a deadly attack at a coal mine in Xinjiang. China called it a coordinated terrorist attack; Gauthier's report suggested otherwise. What happened in Paris and what happened at the coal mine attacked had "nothing in common," she wrote.
The incident in Xinjiang was "an explosion of local rage," Gauthier said. "Pushed to the limit, a small group of Uighurs armed with cleavers set upon a coal mine and its Han Chinese workers, probably in revenge for an abuse, an injustice or an expropriation."The incident in Xinjiang was "an explosion of local rage," Gauthier said. "Pushed to the limit, a small group of Uighurs armed with cleavers set upon a coal mine and its Han Chinese workers, probably in revenge for an abuse, an injustice or an expropriation."
Soon after the piece was published, Gauthier was attacked in a series of stories in China's tightly controlled state-backed news media. Commenters published her photograph and address online and threatened her with violence.Soon after the piece was published, Gauthier was attacked in a series of stories in China's tightly controlled state-backed news media. Commenters published her photograph and address online and threatened her with violence.
Journalist Ursula Gauthier was attacked by the Chinese state media for her reporting on terrorism and Xinjiang. https://t.co/w3ieK3PgSX — CPJ Asia Desk (@cpjasia) November 29, 2015Journalist Ursula Gauthier was attacked by the Chinese state media for her reporting on terrorism and Xinjiang. https://t.co/w3ieK3PgSX — CPJ Asia Desk (@cpjasia) November 29, 2015
Journalist Ursula Gauthier was attacked by the Chinese state media for her reporting on terrorism and Xinjiang. https://t.co/w3ieK3PgSXJournalist Ursula Gauthier was attacked by the Chinese state media for her reporting on terrorism and Xinjiang. https://t.co/w3ieK3PgSX
— CPJ Asia Desk (@cpjasia) November 29, 2015— CPJ Asia Desk (@cpjasia) November 29, 2015
The Chinese Foreign Ministry later blasted Gauthier for "hurting Chinese people's feelings with wrong and hateful actions and words." She was urged to recant and apologize; Gauthier refused. The Foreign Ministry later blasted Gauthier for "hurting Chinese people's feelings with wrong and hateful actions and words." She was urged to recant and apologize; Gauthier refused.
"They want a public apology for things that I have not written," she told the Associated Press.  "They are accusing me of writing things that I have not written.""They want a public apology for things that I have not written," she told the Associated Press.  "They are accusing me of writing things that I have not written."
Gu Jinglu reported from Beijing. Gu Jinglu reported from Beijing. 
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