Beijing has hit back at Barack Obama’s criticisms about China’s record on freedom of speech and press censorship. The country has told the US President to keep out of its domestic affairs.
During his speech on World Press Freedom Day, May 1, Obama said the imprisonment of Shi Tao and Hu Jia showed China was among those countries where journalists were being jailed and actively harassed.
“Emblematic examples of this distressing reality are figures like J.S. Tissainayagam in Sri Lanka, or Shi Tao and Hu Jia in China,” he said.
On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded, saying that Beijing protects freedom of speech and is encouraging the development of the media in the country.
“China’s news cause has achieved remarkable development since its reform and opening up to the outside world 30 years ago, with the number of press staff increased and their rights and interests protected,” Ma Zhaoxu said, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“We urge the US to respect the facts and China’s jurisdiction, view China’s press freedom correctly, and stop intervening in China’s press freedom,” Ma stressed.
Earlier it was Sri Lankan President who said Sri Lanka does not need any western teachings to be humanitarian.
