Why are we not there? Because Beijing won't give us visas

October 6, 2023

Hi Pearls and Irritations,

I just read Bob Rogers lament on the lack of coverage of the Hangzhou Asian Games in Australian media. “One can only ask oneself the thinking behind this total white wash?” Bob wrote.

Please pass on to Bob that one of the reasons it has not received much coverage, is that – once again – our requests for visas to report on it were not agreed to by the Chinese government. I tried for almost six months to get a visa. I wasn’t allowed one.

Frankly, I’m not surprised your contributors are unaware of this. While Pearls and Irritations has seemingly endless space for pieces complaining about Australian media coverage of China, I’ve never read a word of concern on this website about Beijing’s refusal to issue visas to Australian media correspondents or, for that matter, a word on the deterioration of working conditions for reporters based in China.

Instead I’ve read Pearls and Irritations’ contributors claim Australian media have chosen not to be in China. Thats complete rubbish. We’re not there because Beijing won’t give us visas. Indian and Canadian media are in the same situation. Its why presently no media outfit from our three countries has a single correspondent based in China.

Clearly, thats far from ideal.

Regards,

Will Glasgow North Asia correspondent, The Australian