About
The global voice of journalists
About the IFJ’s work on China
The International Federation of Journalists’ project to monitor press freedom in China was launched in 2008, the year of the Beijing Olympics. In order to win the Games, China promised a free press and greater human rights and these pledges were expressed in the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists. Critically, the rules set down important freedoms including the right for foreign journalists to freely interview an organization or individual. In October 2008, the authorities extended the regulations indefinitely and hopes rose that this was the beginning of a new, more open era for China.
Well over a decade later, the country’s Olympic reporting regulations remain in operation, but the promise has all but faded away. The overall situation has deteriorated in two significant ways. First, the state of press freedom has regressed in the People’s Republic of China under the repressive regime of long-running president, Xi Jinping. Second, the Mainland government further expanded its ideology and control into Hong Kong and Macau, ignoring their separate status and trampling on the growing public demands for democracy and protection and defence of human rights.
Despite China’s glittering economic success, this was a dark period for the Chinese people’s right to information and, importantly, their right to expression At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017, Xi Jinping followed convention by taking a second five-year term as General Secretary of the party. As both general secretary of the party and president of the nation, Xi is consolidating and prolonging his hold on power. There is little evidence to suggest that press freedom can improve in the foreseeable future. While the Mainland and Hong Kong Governments attempt to present the administration as “transparent”, “accountable”.
The IFJ has released yearly reports on China, with three released in 2022 - Fair Game, Lights Out, and The China Network. The IFJ’s work brings together innovative and ground-breaking IFJ-led research, news and experiences from IFJ affiliates around the world, as well as NGO partners engaged in the China and media development space.
About the IFJ Asia Pacific
The IFJ Asia-Pacific office represents 30 affiliated unions and associations in the Asia-Pacific region.
IFJ Asia-Pacific works with national journalists’ unions and associations to improve the conditions of journalists and the quality of journalism through training programs and advocacy campaigns in defense of media-related rights, including the right to safety and decent working conditions, the right to freedom of expression, the right to a free media, the right to access information, the right to freedom of association and the right to justice and fair legal proceedings.
IFJ Asia-Pacific also runs actions and international campaigns on journalists’ safety, press freedom, public service values, editorial independence, ethics, gender equality and decent working conditions at the request of affiliates, associates and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. This work ranges from emergency missions to draw international attention to immediate crises to long-term training, campaigning and institutional support.
IFJ Asia-Pacific aims to:
Strengthen the organisation and leadership of journalists’ unions and professional bodies.
Improve journalists’ working conditions.
Assure journalists of safety and protection.
Defend freedom of the media, freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Enable quality journalism to thrive.
Ensure the media and journalists’ organisations are open to participation by all.