BBC China correspondent leaves Beijing for Taiwan, citing threats
- Journalist John Sudworth says he had been under surveillance and faced obstruction and intimidation
- Chinese foreign ministry denies threatening reporter
The journalist, John Sudworth, told BBC radio he moved with his family because it had become increasingly difficult to remain in the country. He had been under surveillance, faced threats of legal action, obstruction and intimidation, he said.
“We left in a hurry, followed by plain-clothes police all the way to the airport through the check-in. The true grim reality for reporters here being made clear all the way to the very end,” he said in comments aired on Wednesday.
China’s foreign ministry said Sudworth had not given any notice of his departure, and it strongly condemned the BBC’s reporting on Xinjiang, Covid-19 and Hong Kong.
“We never threatened him,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. “We don’t know why he left because he didn’t say goodbye.”
Announcing Sudworth’s move, the BBC said in a statement that he remained its China correspondent.