British government summons China’s ambassador to Britain in response to reports by BBC that Chinese police attacked one of its journalists reporting on a protest in Shanghai. The Evening Standard newspaper reported Tuesday.
A request by the British Foreign Office to confirm the Evening Standard Report was not immediately answered.
Recent protests in China’s major cities have been against COVID-19 strict measures. This is a rare act of civil disobedience since Xi Jinping was elected leader ten years ago.
BBC claimed that Ed Lawrence, its journalist was beat up and taken into custody while covering the protests at Shanghai.
“He was held for several hour before being released. During his arrest, the police beat and kicked him. “This happened while he worked as an accredited journalist,” the broadcaster stated in a Sunday statement.
China’s foreign minister has denied the account, stating that the journalist was not a reporter.