CPJ urges China to release journalist Zhang Zhan after second conviction
Editor’s note: Zhang Zhan was sentenced to four years in prison on September 19 for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to media reports and sources who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. The headline and first paragraph of this alert have been updated to reflect the sentencing. New York, September 19, 2025—The Committee to…
Hong Kong-based Bloomberg reporter latest journalist denied work visa since National Security Law
New York, August 25, 2025—Hong Kong authorities should ensure the right of journalists to work freely and renew the work visa of Bloomberg reporter Rebecca Choong Wilkins, who is among at least eight journalists whose work visas and entry into the city have been denied since its 2020 National Security Law, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Choong Wilkins, a British…
CPJ joins 71 groups in call to secure Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 71 other press freedom and human rights organizations in an August 21 joint letter calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure UK citizen and publisher Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds. Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has suffered deteriorating health, including heart palpitations…
CPJ urges Hong Kong to free Jimmy Lai as trial near its end
New York, August 13, 2025—As closing arguments are set to begin on August 14 in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against the 77-year-old publisher and release him immediately and unconditionally. Lai, whose…
Why a Hong Kong law that is eroding press freedom is also bad for business
New York, June 30, 2025—Hong Kong, an international financial hub and once a beacon of free media, is now in the grip of a rapid decline in press freedom that threatens the city’s status as a global financial information center. Three journalists told CPJ that investigative reporting on major economic events, a cornerstone of Hong…
UK PM yet to meet jailed Jimmy Lai’s son as Hong Kong publisher’s health worsens
New York, June 24, 2025—On the fourth anniversary of the closure of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 32 other press freedom and human rights organizations in calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently meet with Sebastien Lai, son of jailed publisher and British citizen Jimmy Lai….
Tax audits target Hong Kong journalists, news outlets as press freedom concerns intensify
New York, May 22, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply alarmed by multiple reports of “unreasonable” tax audits targeting at least six Hong Kong independent media outlets and around 20 journalists and their families, and calls on the Hong Kong government to end its weaponization of financial and tax measures against the press. The Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP),…
CPJ, 58 groups call for journalist Zhang Zhan’s immediate release on 5th anniversary of unjust arrest
New York, May 14, 2025—CPJ and 58 other press freedom and human rights groups condemned the Chinese government’s ongoing arbitrary detention of independent journalist Zhang Zhan and called for her immediate release on the fifth anniversary of her arrest. Zhang was first detained on May 14, 2020, while reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. Zhang completed a four-year prison sentence for…
2 Macao journalists detained, risk prosecution after seeking to cover parliament
New York, April 28, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists decries the 11-hour detention and potential prosecution of two journalists for disruption after they were barred from a parliamentary session in China’s special administrative region of Macao. “There has been a systematic erosion of press freedom in Macao, with the denial of entry to journalists and…
China jails Taiwan-based publisher for 3 years on separatism charges
New York, March 26, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a three-year prison sentence handed to Taiwan-based radio host and publisher Li Yanhe on charges of inciting separatism, and calls on Chinese authorities to allow the media to work freely. Li, who is a Chinese citizen and goes by the name Fucha, was arrested in…