Report Wire

Tag: DW

  • How the Ukraine battle has pushed Taiwan to raised put together for crises

    As the battle in Ukraine enters its seventh month, folks in Taiwan are beginning to really feel an urgency to be ready for all eventualities amid escalating navy strain from Beijing.

    In latest months, authorities and civil society organizations in Taiwan have initiated a collection of reforms and island-wide trainings which are designed to reinforce Taiwanese folks’s fight readiness and their skills to cope with any potential crises.

    Buy Now | Our finest subscription plan now has a particular worth

    One of the organizations at the forefront of this effort is Forward Alliance, an NGO geared toward enhancing Taiwan’s nationwide resilience.

    Since March, the NGO has been providing civil protection packages which prepare contributors to manage first help, deal with trauma, conduct search and rescue operations, and find shelters throughout emergency conditions.

    Resilience coaching

    “We are training civilians in crisis response,” mentioned Enoch Wu, founding father of Forward Alliance. “It’s about how to keep communities running and the trainings help prepare citizens against man-made or natural crises.”

    The coaching packages had been initially scheduled to kick off in August, however the Ukraine battle exacerbated a way of urgency throughout Taiwan, so Forward Alliance determined to maneuver its coaching to March as a part of its responses to the elevated demand from the Taiwanese folks.

    “We’ve received very strong demands from the communities and citizens. People want to know how they can help each other and they want to know how they can serve the communities, even when we are not in uniform,” Wu informed DW.

    “We have modulized our training, so more people can attend. We have trained more than 1,000 people but that’s not enough. We know public resilience has to be a whole society’s effort and we need to nationalize these trainings,” he added.

    Preparation is vital

    The alliance organized one coaching session in Taiwan’s second-largest metropolis, Taichung, on August 27, for which dozens of individuals signed up.

    Retirees, housewives, younger professionals and college students crowded a local people middle to study primary first help abilities. Most attendees mentioned the battle in Ukraine and Taiwan’s delicate political standing pushed them to participate within the workshop.

    “I decided to join the training because of the war in Ukraine,” mentioned Cherri Lee, an schooling skilled in her 40s.

    “People in Taiwan have been enjoying peace for a long time, but I don’t think that’s an excuse for us to remain complacent about the rising threats posed by China.”

    “Having a place to get information about first aid and knowing what to do when things happened and how to react when emergencies happen will help to inform people that Taiwan may not be as safe as they think,” she added.

    Stepping up society’s response to potential crises

    Another participant informed DW that it was essential for strange residents to appreciate that they might additionally change into a part of the primary responder groups.

    “I think it’s wonderful that we can get the chance to learn how to help other people whenever there is a crisis,” mentioned Jenny Chen, a college counselor in her 50s.

    “With the war in Ukraine, I think there is more awareness about how vulnerable Taiwan can be. We need to be vigilant no matter what.”

    Many specialists identified that civil protection coaching can have a constructive influence on society’s emergency response — whether or not it’s to a pure catastrophe or a navy battle.

    “These training sessions can give Taiwanese people a sense of urgency, and the first aid training is very practical and can be effective in both natural disasters and wars,” mentioned Tzu-yun Su, an analyst on the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan.

    “It’ll be a lot simpler for individuals who have gone by these coaching classes to stay calm throughout emergencies, and so they may assist to reassure folks round them.

    As folks throughout Taiwan start to know the significance of those coaching, I’m positive the packages shall be expanded sooner or later. This is an excellent begin,” he informed DW.

    Taiwan launches new reservist coaching scheme

    Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go to to Taiwan earlier this month, China has elevated its navy actions round Taiwan, together with imposing a 7-day near-blockade situation round Taiwan in addition to repeatedly flying navy plane and sending naval vessels over the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

    Following repeated makes an attempt by the People’s Liberation Army to ship drones very near Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Island, the Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed complaints from Taiwan, saying the drones had been merely flying over “Chinese territory,” whereas Taipei characterised the provocative strikes as harassment.

    Apart from the efforts to strengthen the island’s civil protection, Taiwanese authorities additionally launched a brand new reservist coaching scheme geared toward enhancing the reserve forces’ fight readiness.

    In March, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry unveiled plans to increase reservist coaching to 2 weeks and double the time reservists spent on fight coaching like rifle capturing.

    Over the previous couple of months, as the brand new coaching scheme rolled out on a trial foundation, some reservists who took half within the coaching expressed doubts about its effectiveness — in addition to the general psychological preparedness of the trainees.

    “While the content of the training is more solid than before, I still have doubts about how much of the experiences and skills that reservists acquire from these training can be applied to a real military conflict,” mentioned one reservist surnamed Chen, who participated in a 7-day coaching in August.

    ‘Gradual transformation’

    “The guns we used for rifle shooting were manufactured in the 1980s, and while there were more than 300 reservists in my cohort, the number of guns that could actually be used was less than one-tenth of the number of reservists participating in the training,” Chen informed DW.

    “The active military personnel also didn’t enforce any rules during the training, so I still saw a lot of reservists treating the training as going on a holiday. I don’t think the war in Ukraine has necessarily increased the level of awareness about heightened military pressure from China among the reservists.”

    Taiwanese navy knowledgeable Su mentioned the method of reforming the reservist coaching scheme is a gradual transformation, relatively than a revolution.

    Acquiring fight abilities

    “While a lot of progress can still be made regarding the reservist training scheme, one significant function of the current scheme is that it helps to cultivate the mentality of supporting the defense force within Taiwan’s civil society,” he informed DW.

    “Even though the content of the training can be more detailed, the current framework is very helpful for Taiwan’s national security and defense, as well as for cultivating the spirit of supporting the defense force within society,” he added.

    Su steered that Taiwanese authorities put extra emphasis on live-fire drills throughout reservists’ coaching, because it is a crucial facet of fight abilities.

    “Other parts of the training can be reduced, but I think authorities should shift most of the focus to improving reservists’ combat skills. The military should put more budget into this area,” he mentioned.

  • Do Black lives matter in Italy?

    Four weeks have handed since Charity Oriakhu instantly grew to become a widow. Yet, she nonetheless goes mute at any time when her youngsters — a son and daughter ⁠— ask the place their dad is.

    “My son asks me: ‘where is daddy?’ thinking his daddy is in the hospital,” the Nigerian lady, who lives in Italy, advised DW.

    Buy Now | Our finest subscription plan now has a particular worth

    The children typically gaze on the door anticipating their father, Alika Ogochukwu, to return dwelling.

    “On his way back, he buys them many things. This time is summer; he buys them ice cream, a lot of things,” Oriakhu defined.

    Since July 29, 2022, the 2 children have puzzled why there’s been no ice cream and different goodies.

    Murdered in broad daylight

    According to sources who spoke to DW, Ogochukwu was accomplished with the day’s work that fateful Friday and ready for his bus on the identical bus cease in Civitanova Marche, central Italy — to go dwelling. Ogochukwu was a road vendor.

    Then, a younger Italian lady accompanied by a white man handed by, and Ogochukwu greeted her, saying: “Ciao bella,” a casual Italian expression which means ‘hi or goodbye beautiful.’

    Oriakhu additionally confirmed this. “People that were there said my husband said ciao — he greeted the boy’s girlfriend: ciao bella — just like that. Finish.”

    But in a match of rage, the 32-year-old Italian man launched a bodily assault on Ogochukwu regardless of seeing that he was residing with a incapacity.

    He was residing with a incapacity after being hit by a automobile and consequently shedding his job.

    Aided by his crutch, Ogochukwu tried to run, however the Italian man overpowered him, snatched his crutch, and used it to hit him.

    He shoved the visibly shaken Nigerian to the bottom, unleashing torrents of blows earlier than strangling him together with his naked fingers.

    The attacker then used his knee to crush Ogochukwu’s head to the bottom earlier than fleeing the scene after stealing his telephone.

    All these occurred in broad daylight whereas passersby used their telephones to report what occurred.

    A easy, quiet man

    People who knew Ogochukwu described him as a easy, quiet, comfortable, and easy-going man who believed all people are one.

    He cherished and revered everybody he met, so he greeted and complimented folks effortlessly.

    “He was not even telling the Italian woman to buy anything. Instead, he greeted,” Oriakhu burdened.

    “This is, unfortunately, a familiar story,” Ojeaku Nwabuzo, Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Network Development on the European Network Against Racism, stated.

    “It is due to a long history of racist violence in Italy,” the anti-racism activist advised DW. She stated she doesn’t perceive why the onlookers couldn’t assist.

    Nwabuzo stated Italy has a notoriety for racismacross the board, noting that political and regulation enforcement establishments should not comprehensively addressing the difficulty.

    Do Black lives matter in Italy?

    At the middle of Ogochukwu’s homicide is a disregard for the lives of Africans, stated Kudus Adebayo, a fellow on the African Center for Migration and Society on the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

    “Africans have been framed over the years as a burden to the European bliss,” Adebayo advised DW.

    “Not just by the media but also by politicians who ride on the back of populist ideologies to seek votes and in the bid to do this, frame certain bodies as disposable.”

    He stated that explains the blatant disregard for Black lives and the killing within the public glare of a weak particular person.

    “Not just someone that’s having issues with disability, but also a Black man who is on the street trying to make ends meet.”

    African migrants used as scapegoats

    Those interviewed for this text stated many Italians consider African immigrants have been a burden to the nation, carry illness, and are liable for rising crimes.

    Right-wing supporters have taken up this narrative and turned it into an immigration challenge.

    Africans in central and southern Italy whom DW spoke with on situation of anonymity for concern of reprisals stated the nation has an issue of racist crimes, nevertheless it has by no means been acknowledged.

    They stated political rhetoric on the highest degree fuels the violence resulting in assaults akin to in Civitanova and different components of the nation.

    Quite a lot of Africans advised DW that Italy was dwelling to institutional racism.

    “This problem holds a very notorious and uncomfortable position in that particular country,” Adebayo stated.

    He went on to say that it’s straightforward for folks with no matter concepts of their heads to exit feeling that they’ve the backing of the state, ‘to mete punishment’ towards folks they assume shouldn’t be of their nation.

    “This is the pattern in Italy and it doesn’t seem there is a very proactive approach to dealing with this issue in a very decisive manner.”

    Racist slurs and mimics

    Justin, a 45-year-old Nigerian car professional in Civitanova, stated racist slurs are typically hauled on to the faces of black Africans. At different occasions, racist actions do the insulting.

    “Racism deprives us from competing equally, from learning the language, from being who we are,” he advised DW.

    “We are being suppressed in different ways, we cannot even go to school, we are just mistreated,” he added.

    “They [Italian racists] give you this feeling everywhere that you are nothing. So, you have lots of fights and we are psychologically damaged and suppressed.”

    “We don’t have equal rights here,” Edewor stated as he recalled some ugly private experiences. “Somebody once told me: ‘you are an ancient ape, get out of here; you’re too dark’.”

    He didn’t finish there. “They call you monkey, they call you names and, they ask what are you doing here; we don’t need you here, you cannot do anything [about the racist attacks].”

    So he ignored them as a result of he needed to amass his [car mechanic] certificates. “I want to be successful, so I concentrated on myself.”

    Edewor stated he understands the racist assaults: “They want to pull me down with all these words and some of these people sometimes come apologizing because they see I’m really strong, even stronger than them.”

    Plastic smiles, hearts crammed with venom

    Kennedy, 47, who works as a supply man and has been residing in Parma — a metropolis in northern Italy — for the previous 20 years, describes some Italians as pretentious folks with plastic smiles on their faces however hearts stuffed with venom.

    “I have experienced a situation where I delivered electronics to a customer and she even offered me coffee, I accepted. When I left, she called the office that next time, they should not send a black man to her house again.”

    This was not the one expertise. “When I brought in something to deliver to the house, she [another white Italian client] refused to open the door. She called the office that she was not expecting a black man to bring her stuff.” The firm advised her that if she doesn’t need to obtain the package deal from a Black man she as the proper to reject the merchandise, which she then did.

    Black youngsters not spared

    Omonigho, one other Nigerian in Italy, advised DW she had skilled racist actions for many of her younger life.

    At two months previous, her father, an engineer, and mom, an African meals retailer proprietor, took her to a daycare middle in Cremona, Northern Italy.

    When the daddy would typically go by to verify on his child, “they would take care of other children, maybe hold them. My daughter would be on the bed all alone in a hall,” the daddy advised DW. “Which is not supposed to be, but we don’t have an alternative,” he added. “Nobody wants to carry a black child.”

    Omonigho has at all times felt unwelcomed and unaccepted although she was born in Cremona, Italy.

    While non-African children who pooped on themselves in kindergarten have been taken to the college’s cleaners to be cleaned and taught use the bathroom, Omonigho was at all times advised to go alone whereas the cleaners would refuse to scrub or educate her use a potty.

  • Why this Finnish city is saying sure to nuclear waste in its yard

    It’s inconceivable to individuals in most elements of the world that anybody would actively need to reside close to a nuclear waste web site. But within the western Finnish city of Eurajoki, there’s no NIMBYism (“Not In My Backyard”) because the municipality really campaigned in opposition to different cities to have the disposal web site positioned there, subsequent to the present Olkiluoto nuclear energy plant.

    Authorities decided that this space had one of the best mixture of a bedrock of public assist and precise bedrock to change into spent nuclear gasoline’s remaining resting place, nearly half a kilometer underground.

    Buy Now | Our greatest subscription plan now has a particular worth

    Don’t fear, be Finnish?

    Mayor Vesa Lakaniemi explains that being house to 3 reactors and the repository — referred to as Onkalo, which suggests “little cave” in Finnish — gives long-term safety for his residents. Real-estate taxes from the nuclear web site usher in about 20 million euros per yr, nearly half the municipality’s annual income.

    “That’s how we can plan our future investments,” Lakaniemi says. He gestures to the varsity that’s simply been renovated behind metropolis corridor and a big new library simply throughout the car parking zone, explaining that an eight-million euro sports activities facility is within the works. “When you have steady income, it’s much easier to plan those those future investments. And of course, it’s it’s very big thing for us that we can also also have very good services for our inhabitants, schools and and health care.”

    Lakaniemi notes the notably Finnish attribute of residents having excessive ranges of belief of their authorities, however he emphasizes that’s been earned right here over the past 4 many years of incident-free nuclear plant administration and intensive outreach by Olkiluoto to residents. In addition, he notes, the 20 years of planning for the Onkalo repository didn’t begin with politicians.

    “First scientists and engineers and experts in that area figure out how it is secure to do final disposal,” he defined. “After that came political decision-making and and I think that’s the only right way to do it.”

    Tests of time

    Johanna Hansen is a kind of scientists. The geologist with Posiva, the waste-management firm chargeable for Onkalo, has been engaged on the mission half her life. Deep in one among Onkalo’s tunnels, Hansen marvels that this bedrock is 2 billion years outdated and explains that its stability is what made this location geophysically ultimate for the positioning.

    Spent nuclear gasoline from Finland’s two energy vegetation shall be transported to the positioning, then transferred into metal canisters on the above-ground a part of the ability. Those are put into copper capsules and lowered meters into the carved-out bedrock, the place they’re packed in bentonite, with the tunnel backfilled and sealed.

    Hansen says whereas there’s a variety of confidence already that the system is sort of able to go, it’s going to nonetheless be examined for the subsequent couple of years to “ensure that also in the far future that there are no pathways to the surface. So this facility will store the canisters for 100,00 years.”

    With apparent delight, she provides, “It’s of course nice to see that here in Finland we can show an example also for other countries.”

    Boost from Brussels

    And there are extra international locations exhibiting curiosity these days, due partly to the European Union’s choice to designate nuclear energy as a “green fuel” and to its rising need to scale back vitality dependence on Russia because it wages battle on Ukraine.

    Pasi Tuohimaa, head of communications for Posiva, says the EU choice was necessary to assist change different international locations’ views on nuclear energy generally. The potential for a protected everlasting answer for waste provides to the attraction. Sweden determined earlier this yr to construct a web site based mostly on the identical rules as Onkalo. Tuohimaa expects others will observe go well with, and stated he’s watching the polls transfer in Germany too.

    “Lots of people say, ‘okay, nuclear is good, but then you have this waste of used nuclear fuel,’” he explained. “What we are saying is that, no, that’s not true. We do have the answer for that, and it’s fully protected.”

    Finns flock only for enjoyable

    Of course, that’s been a straightforward promote domestically for many years. “[Finnish] environmentalists already support nuclear power, which is quite remarkable,” Tuohimaa stated.

    Far from being afraid, Finns come to the Olkiluoto energy plant for excursions. Heli Blomroos, whose household has a summer season home close by, introduced her younger son Juho, hoping to spark his curiosity within the nuclear trade as a profession.

    She is considerably shocked to be requested if she’s involved about environmental dangers from the nuclear web site, saying it had not occurred to her — “no, never!”

    Blomroos is assured authorities have taken all the required precautions. “I trust my fellow citizens. They are professionals in this — they can do it in a safe way,” she stated. “And it’s the first one in the world so it’s great!”

  • ‘This time is different’: Tens of 1000’s protest gun violence in US

    “As we gather here today, the next shooter is already plotting his attack while the federal government pretends it can do nothing to stop it,” David Hogg, a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School taking pictures, informed a crowd of tens of 1000’s within the US capital, Washington, on Saturday.

    The occasion, which featured speeches from different survivors, the households of victims and educators, drew an estmimated 50,000 attendees, in keeping with the organisers, March for Our Lives. The group was based by Hogg and different youngsters from the college in Parkland, Florida, to advocate for stricter gun management.

    Addressing the group close to the Washington Monument, he urged the group to think about seeing the identify of a beloved one seem on the ever-growing listing of gun violence victims within the US.

    “This time is different,” Hogg stated, earlier than asking the group to chant the sentence repeatedly.

    Best of Express PremiumPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium

    Simultaneous protests look place in round 450 areas throughout the US, calling for an finish to inaction from political leaders.

    The marches adopted lethal mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, the place a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two academics, and a grocery store taking pictures in Buffalo, New York, that left 10 folks useless, in addition to a taking pictures at a Taiwanese-American church in Southern California, during which one particular person was killed and 5 injured. All these occasions passed off inside one month.

    “I speak as a mayor, a mom, and I speak for millions of Americans and America’s mayors who are demanding that Congress do its job. And its job is to protect us, to protect our children from gun violence,” Mayor Muriel Bowser informed protestors in Washington. “Enough is enough.”

    Re-living the worry

    During a second of silence held for the Uvalde taking pictures victims, a loud voice pierced by the calm, inflicting panic among the many crowd. People within the entrance reported listening to the phrase “gun” and dozens ducked to the bottom, whereas others fled in worry.

    “I saw other people running, and people telling others to run. So I ran,” Milton Gardner, a 23-year-old scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University, informed DW. “It gave me a flash of how … every second of the day is a risk in this country, no matter where you are and what you are doing.”

    Gardner added that he had been afraid to even attend the rally after the Buffalo taking pictures.

    “Everybody hit the ground and I was just standing there because I was in shock,” stated Margaret Tice, a 63-year-old instructor from West Virginia.

    “This woman in front of me broke down and she was sobbing on the ground. It’s real. People are fearful of that every day,” she added.

    A person obscuring his his face with a US flag scarf and darkish sun shades sparked fury by unfurling a big banner studying “Guns’n’bacon.”

    March for Our Lives supporters shortly blocked the banner from view with their indicators calling for gun management, earlier than the person was escorted away by police.

    Stephanie Birch, a college librarian, coated the phrase “guns” on the banner with black tape.
    “When you have a protest you can expect agitators,” the 33-year-old, who flew to the protest from Florida, informed DW. “Fortunately there was no violence, and he had no gun. I think that’s something a lot of us have been worried about — the possibility of a shooting happening here today.”

    House passes new gun controls, however Senate holds out

    On Wednesday, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives handed a sweeping set of gun security measures, however the laws has little to no likelihood of advancing within the Senate, the place Democrats would wish the help of 10 Republicans for the requisite tremendous majority.
    Republicans there consider gun limits violate the US Constitution’s Second Amendment, the fitting to bear arms.

    At the Washinton rally, Hogg led the group in chants of “vote them out,” referring to Republican politicians.

    “This time is different because this isn’t about politics. It’s about morality. Not right and left, but right and wrong, and that doesn’t just mean thoughts and prayers. That means courage and action,” Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., stated.

    Rallies additionally passed off in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

    In New York, the state’s Attorney General Letitia James, who’s suing gun foyer group, the National Rifle Association, joined activists crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.

    “Nothing happens in this country until young people stand up, not politicians,” James stated.

    Hundreds gathered at an amphitheater in Parkland, the place Debra Hixon, whose husband, highschool athletic director Chris Hixon, died within the Buffalo taking pictures, stated it’s “all too easy” for younger males to stroll into shops and purchase weapons.

    President Biden ‘mildly optimistic’ about reform

    President Joe Biden backed the protests, urged demonstrators to “keep marching” and added that he was “mildly optimistic” about legislative negotiations to deal with gun violence.
    A bipartisan group of Senators had hoped to succeed in an settlement this week on a framework for addressing the problem and held talks Friday, although they’ve but to conclude a deal.

    March For Our Lives has known as for an assault weapons ban, common background checks for these attempting to buy weapons, and a nationwide licensing system that will register gun homeowners.

    At the identical time, opponents of harder rules have sought to forged mass shootings as primarily a psychological well being situation, not one among entry to firearms.

    More than 19,300 folks have died in gun-related incidents within the US thus far this yr, in keeping with the Gun Violence Archive. More than half of these deaths are as a result of suicide.

  • Taliban hits DW, BBC with broadcast bans in Afghanistan

    Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities is focusing on worldwide media with broadcasting bans, because the militant group continues to crack down on civil liberties within the nation.

    On Monday, DW’s Afghan service mentioned some DW programming will now not be rebroadcast by Afghan companions.

    The BBC mentioned Sunday that information bulletins in Pashto, Persian and Uzbek are to be taken off air, in line with the UK’s nationwide broadcaster.

    Free media ‘essential’ for Afghanistan improvement: DW

    The Taliban broadcasting crackdown targets DW’s political speak present “Aashti” in Dari and in Pashto on native companion ToloNews. Science packages broadcast on Ariana TV and Shamshad have been additionally affected.

    “The increasing restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Afghanistan are very worrying,” mentioned DW Director-General Peter Limbourg.

    “The fact that the Taliban are now criminalizing the distribution of DW programs by our media partners is hindering positive developments in Afghanistan. Free media is essential for this and we will do everything we can to continue to provide the people of Afghanistan with independent information via the internet and social media,” he added.

    “Since the Taliban took power, the people of Afghanistan have been waiting in vain for their living conditions to improve, or at least for some degree of normality,” Limbourg mentioned.

    Afghans should not be denied ‘independent’ journalism: BBC

    “This is a worrying development at a time of uncertainty and turbulence for the people of Afghanistan,” the BBC mentioned.

    Tarik Kafala, who’s head of languages on the BBC World Service, mentioned that greater than 6 million Afghans consumed BBC’s “independent and impartial journalism” and mentioned that it was essential that they not be denied entry.

    “We call on the Taliban to reverse their decision and allow our TV partners to return the BBC’s news bulletins to their airwaves immediately,” Kafala mentioned in a press release tweeted by BBC anchor and correspondent Yalda Hakim.

    The Taliban can also be blocking broadcasts from the US worldwide broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) in Afghanistan, Germany’s dpa information company reported.

    Taliban spokesperson Abdul Haq Hammad confirmed to dpa that VOA’s tv broadcasts on Afghan channels had been stopped.

    Many journalists fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized management in August 2021. The Taliban’s transfer to halt worldwide broadcasters from working comes days after the group backtracked on a call to reopen women’ secondary faculties.

  • Why China is skeptical of native journalists working for Western media

    China’s state media have stepped up their assaults on Western media shops previously few weeks.

    The Xinhua information company stated in an English-language report on March 15 that Western media organizations have “recruited a cohort of Chinese media practitioners as pawns to propagate their China-bashing rhetoric.”

    🗞️ Subscribe Now: Get Express Premium to entry one of the best Election reporting and evaluation 🗞️

    “The stories have distorted China’s domestic and foreign policies and reinforced the highly biased image of China in the Western world, gravely violating basic professional ethics and eliminating any sense of objectivity,” the report stated.

    Xinhua cited Western media’s studies about China’s preliminary COVID response and the human rights violations in Xinjiang state as examples of Western media’s “smear campaign against China” that may not have been potential with out the assistance from their Chinese workers.

    “Chinese reporters in Western media have also cobbled together ‘evidence’ depicting China’s so-called human rights violations,” the Xinhua report claimed.

    Experts are of the view that the Xinhua article displays a worrying development of finger-pointing at Chinese journalists related to Western media.

    Kecheng Fang, assistant professor of Media and Communications on the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), informed DW that different nationalistic media shops, too, have revealed related studies.

    “Some of these local journalists are now worried about their personal safety as well as the safety of their family members in China,” he informed DW.

    “The Xinhua article criticized them for participating in China-bashing stories, but many of the journalists I have spoken to say they will continue to contribute to the China-related reporting in Western media,” Fang stated, including that they consider their work provides to a greater understanding of China in overseas media.

    ‘Attack from outside’

    According to Western China observers, accusations towards native journalists working for overseas media organizations mirror the general sense of nationalism in China.

    “There is this general atmosphere of protection against the hostile intention of the ‘outside,’” David Bandurski, co-director of the China Media Project, a corporation monitoring the media atmosphere in China, informed DW.

    “There is a renewed push against Chinese people who are seen as colluding. We even see the word ‘hostile forces’ come in. It doesn’t just mean outside forces; it means people inside China who are working with these ‘hostile foreign forces,’” he added.

    Yangyang Cheng, a fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center, fears that the development will put Chinese journalists working for overseas media in hurt’s manner.

    “In addition to potential friction with the Chinese state and its security forces, the views expressed in the [Xinhua] article, coming from an official channel, will further legitimize and incentivize harassment and online attacks on these Chinese journalists from Chinese nationalists and their sympathizers,” she informed DW.

    Encouraging ‘witch-hunt’

    A Mandarin-language article revealed by the state-run tabloid Global Times newspaper in February named a number of Chinese journalists who “defected to Western media” and stabbed the Chinese individuals and the nation within the again.

    The article revealed the names, employment histories, and photographs of some Chinese journalists working for overseas media shops, and criticized them for taking part in an element within the alleged Western conspiracy.

    “Originally, cross-culturalism was the outstanding advantage of these people, who could bring a more objective and realistic view of the world and China to Chinese and Western readers with their unique perspectives,” the article stated. “However, they [Chinese journalists] used their reports to pass the knife to the anti-China forces in the West and shoot their compatriots in the back.”

    Chiaoning Su, a journalism professor at Oakland University, says these measures might encourage Chinese nationalists to provoke a witch-hunt towards these journalists.

    “By describing these journalists as ‘traitors’ and denigrating their professionalism and impartiality in the field of journalism, the Chinese government is attempting to clear its name from the misconduct that they have committed,” she informed DW. “They also try to distort press freedom that has been upheld by Western media into an ideological propaganda.”

    Objective China reporting

    Yangyang Cheng from Yale Law School says it’s crucial for overseas media to do extra to guard their Chinese workers and their sources in China.

    Experts agree that the worsening media state of affairs in China is prone to make reporting on the nation much more troublesome for overseas media.

     

    “Authoritarian countries, including China and Russia, are restricting the space for news coverage,” stated Chiaoning Su from Oakland University.

    “As an increasing number of foreign media outlets are forced to leave China due to various reasons, they will face more challenges when it comes to their China reporting,” Su stated, including that it will likely be troublesome for them to realize the belief of the interviewees and to painting a truthful image of the state of affairs within the nation.