What happened when Chinese security tried to stop Aussie journos from doing our job

As far as welcomes go, being surrounded by security officials and told the police were on the way was about as unfriendly as you could want as a journalist reporting in China.

As far as welcomes go, being surrounded by security officials and told the police were on the way was about as unfriendly as you could want as a journalist reporting in China.

But that’s what a group of Australian media colleagues and I got as we set up cameras at a popular tourist attraction in Beijing to film content as part of coverage of Anthony Albanese’s visit.

That we managed to escape with minimal fuss was entirely down to our brilliant Australian Embassy escort who negotiated with an angry and determined security guard long enough for the group to get packed up and swiftly exit the area, but the incident was a stark reminder of just how repressive the Chinese regime is.

We had sought prior permission to film, carried letters from the Australian Embassy explaining our presence, were accompanied by a diplomat fluent in Mandarin and were still shut down.

News Corp National Political Editor Clare Armstrong at the Drum Tower in Beijing shortly before local security officials tried to stop Australian journalists from leaving the area and threatened to call police. Picture: Supplied

But lack of access and harassment are common experiences for the limited international media able to report in China.

Our visit to the famous Bell and Drum Towers in central Beijing was without the Prime Minister, who was at that time on his way to a high level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chinese security have intercepted an Australian media bus in Beijing ahead of Anthony Albanese’s big meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: Supplied/ABC

Had the entire official Australian contingent and the PM been present, it’s likely the low level local security guards would never have approached, but whether through miscommunication or not, having a camera makes you a target in China.

It’s ironic given the country is absolutely covered in them – CCTV cameras monitoring every move made in public – but turn the lens back on the state and things can go south very quickly.

As the security officials barked at us about deleting footage – all of which was thankfully long gone on its way back to Australia by then – and threatened to follow us if we left the site before police arrived, we calmly and respectfully refused to acquiesce.

But when our bus arrived as a timely ticket out of the situation, the security officials immediately turned their attention on our local driver, clearly believing he would be an easier target to persuade.

It was a pointed example of how any association with foreign media can make life hard for a Chinese citizen.

Thankfully by the time Mr Albanese and Mr Xi shook hands a few hours later we were all back at the hotel, no harm done.

Though the ‘authentic’ experience of reporting in Beijing probably offered far more insight than the Chinese Government ever intended.

Originally published as What happened when Chinese security tried to stop Aussie journos from doing our job