There is no so-called pressure or threat against BBC reporter John Sudworth and his family as he claimed and China has always provided convenience for his work and protected his right and freedom during his nine years of reporting in the country, a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) said on Saturday.
The remarks came after the EU criticized China earlier this week over the freedom of speech and press due to Sudworth leaving Beijing, where he had been stationed.
"China has and will continue providing facilitation and assistance to foreign correspondents for their reporting in China. Yet we firmly reject ideological prejudice against China, we firmly reject any conduct in breach of press work ethics and morality, and we firmly reject any attack and slandering on China by fabricating fake news and disinformation in the name of the freedom of speech and press," the spokesperson said in a statement.
China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Sudworth had traveled from the mainland to Taiwan "without saying goodbye."
"He did not inform Chinese authorities in any way of the reason for his departure… It is definitely not normal for a foreign resident correspondent to leave without going through due procedures," the Foreign Ministry clarified and denied threatening him over his reports on China's Xinjiang which are deemed to be fake.
