New York Times website is banned in China A New York Times journalist has flown from China to Hong Kong after the authorities failed to issue him with a visa. Chris Buckley, a 45-year-old Australian was working as a reporter in China since 2000 . The newspaper applied for Buckley to be accredited, but numerous visa requests were ignored, resulting in Buckley and his family being forced to leave.
The Chinese government is clamping down on foreign news reporters after recent investigations into the finances of some of the top politicians.
NY Times published an investigation into the finances of prime minister Wen Jiabao. This move led to its English and Chinese-language websites being blocked in China.
New York Times' new Beijing bureau chief, Philip Pan is still waiting for accreditation, having applied in March.
Research by New York-based press watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), says that Chinese authorities continue to exert pressure on international news organisations.
NY Times's executive editor Jill Abramson said, "I hope the Chinese authorities will issue him (Buckley) a new visa as soon as possible and allow Chris and his family to return to Beijing. I also hope that Phil Pan, whose application for journalist credentials has been pending for months, will also be issued a visa to serve as our bureau chief in Beijing."
The Times has six other accredited correspondents in China, and their visas were renewed for 2013 in a timely manner. David Barboza, the Shanghai bureau chief, who wrote the articles about Mr. Wen’s family, was among those whose visas were renewed.
Source: New York Times, CPJ