Aussie reporters on PM’s China visit in confrontation with security

Local Chinese officials tried to stop Australian reporters from leaving a Beijing tourist attraction with footage and threatened to call the police. See the video.

Local Chinese officials tried to stop Australian reporters from leaving a Beijing tourist attraction with footage and threatened to call the police.

Journalists travelling in China with Anthony Albanese were intercepted by security guards as they filmed at the Bell and Drum Towers in Central Beijing on Tuesday morning and were told not to leave as the police would be called.

Local Chinese security guards in Beijing intercept Australian journalists filming at the Bell and Drum Towers on Tuesday. Picture: Clare Armstrong

The media group were travelling with an Australian diplomatic escort and had a letter of permission to film from the embassy, which had also sought prior permission for filming at the location.

The Prime Minister was not at the site, as he was preparing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

News Corp’s National Political Editor Clare Armstrong, along with film crews from SBS, ABC, Sky News, Nine and Seven were videoing content foreshadowing the upcoming meeting when multiple security guards approached and argued the group did not have the correct documentation to be filming.

As the Australian diplomat negotiated with the official, about eight guards gathered around the media delegation.

The group decided to leave the square, but were told by the local Chinese official they could not go as the police had been called and they would have to delete all their footage.

The official then threatened to follow the journalists if they tried to leave.

Despite this the journalists exited the area and walked to a nearby road waiting for the bus, where the security followed and surrounded the group.

When the bus arrived the officials continued to insist the Australian reporters remain at the site, but they boarded and left with their diplomatic escort.

Originally published as Aussie reporters on PM’s China visit in confrontation with security