Chinese Authorities Detain Swiss Journalist Covering 'Zero COVID Opposition Protest'

On the Same Day, a BBC Reporter Was Also Detained by Public Security Authorities

A foreign journalist covering protests against the Chinese government's 'Zero COVID' policy was temporarily detained by authorities but has since been released. This is the second case following a British BBC journalist being detained by the public security.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A foreign journalist covering protests against the Chinese government's 'Zero COVID' policy was temporarily detained by authorities but has since been released. This is the second case following a British BBC journalist being detained by the public security forces.

Michael Pucker, a correspondent for Swiss public broadcaster RTS, was reportedly taken away by Chinese public security while covering an anti-Zero COVID protest in Shanghai on the afternoon of the 27th, RTS reported on the 29th (local time).

The cameraman who accompanied Pucker at the protest was also detained, and their filming equipment was confiscated and loaded into a public security vehicle.

According to RTS, after a senior Shanghai public security official met with the officers detaining Pucker and his team and spoke with them, they were released. It is reported that the team was held in the detention center for only a few minutes.

On the same day, Ed Lawrence, a BBC journalist covering the protest in Shanghai, was also temporarily detained and later released. At the time, the BBC stated, "Our journalist was handcuffed and taken away while reporting in Shanghai, China," adding, "He was held for several hours until his release, and the public security officers beat him with their hands and feet."

A video showing Lawrence handcuffed and lying on the ground, with public security officers seemingly dragging him, spread widely on social media platforms.

In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) strongly condemned the Chinese public security's treatment, stating, "We strongly denounce the intolerable threats and aggressive attitude of Chinese public security towards member broadcasters and their production teams."