The Public Media Alliance is deeply concerned by China’s recent actions regarding the BBC and the impact this has on media freedom within the region. Access to free and independent journalism is a fundamental human right and underpins informed citizenry and democracy.

On 11 February 2021, China’s media regulator, the National Radio and Television Administration, [NRTA] announced that it was banning BBC broadcasts within the Peoples Republic of China. The action comes a week after the UK media regulator Ofcom revoked China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) licence following an investigation that found the licence was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.

Shortly after the announcement by NRTA, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, a long-term member of the PMA, announced that it would be suspending relays of BBC Radio News programmes.

Header Image: London, UK: BBC Broadcasting House in central London. Credit: oversnap/iStock