Chinese citizens harass foreign media correspondents over Henan floods coverage

Chinese citizens harassed correspondents of numerous international media outlets on streets of Zhengzhou city of Henan province, over weekend. This comes after Chinese state media lambasted foreign media over coverage of floods in Chinese cities. Hong Kong Free Press reported that even Chinese social media platform Weibo witnessed a surge in furious posts criticising coverage of foreign correspondents as cities in country recorded heavy downpours and floods. 

criticism was mainly aimed at BBC’s Chinese correspondent Robin Brant for his report questioning Chinese government’s policies after over a dozen people died in a train carriage due to floodings. In report that was published last Friday, Brant said, “We don't know why y were left so vulnerable” ding that China h warned or local governments to monitor ir own flood preparedness along with or metro regulations. Weibo users, in turn, accused BBC correspondent of being a “rumour-mongering foreigner" and "seriously distorting facts" in his reports on flooding.

"BBC reporter Robin Brant has appeared in disaster-stricken areas of our city many times and has seriously distorted facts. If you find this person, please call police immediately," one post on Saturday re.

Several or correspondents harassed

next day, Beijing Bureau Chief for Los Angeles Times Alice Su and Deutsche Welle's China correspondent Mathias Boelinger were also surrounded by an angry crowd of locals who mistook Boelinger for Brant. After incident, Deutsche Welle's China correspondent tweeted saying, “y kept pushing me yelling that I was a b guy and that I should stop smearing China. One guy [tried] to snatch my phone.” 

ditionally, correspondents covering Henan floods for Al Jazeera and Associated Press also took to social media platform, Twitter about being harassed by crowds while also taking videos and calling on authorities. Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu said that instances were a "s sign of increasing anger and suspicion towards foreign media in China.” 

incidents followed a Global Times report criticising foreign media for ir coverage of floods shattering “myth” of Zhengzhou as a "sponge city" citing Chinese government’s 2018 investment of RMB$50 billion [HK$60 billion] to protect city’s infrastructure during flooding. state-owned outlet stated, “Chinese observers refuted reports, noting that se media reiterated loss, but neglected one fact, that floods in Fis a once-in-a-century occasion and beyond any city's bearing capacity...y noted that Zhengzhou government has me its best efforts to limit loss."

IMAGE: AP