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As I see it | Beijing’s avoidance of foreign media for Wang Yi’s Solomons visit, UN trip to Xinjiang will not help China’s international image
- Media in the Solomon Islands are boycotting Wang Yi’s trip because local reporters there will not be allowed to ask questions to China’s foreign minister
- China’s lack of transparency has also been criticised by international press who are not allowed to travel with a UN human rights body on a visit to Xinjiang
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At a time when China’s regional and global intentions have been called into question, keeping the media at arm’s length will do little in addressing growing concerns and in getting Beijing’s message across to the international community.
Ahead of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s press conference in the Solomon Islands on Thursday, the country’s media association said it would boycott the visit.
They say this is due to restrictions on coverage where Wang will only take a question from state-run CCTV and not from the local press.
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Georgina Kekea, president of the Media Association of Solomon Islands wrote on Twitter saying that it is “a tough call to make” adding that “our protest is for our government to see our disappointment”.
Wang will also visit Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Fiji during his two-week trip, where China will sign key agreements with the Solomon Islands, including a security pact criticised by the United States, Australia and Japan.
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Understandably, the local media would like to ask questions relating to these agreements and should be given the opportunity, even if boilerplate replies are given.
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