China reacts after BBC says its reporter covering Covid protests was detained, 'kicked by cops'

Beijing: China’s foreign ministry said Monday that a BBC reporter arrested at a protest in Shanghai over the weekend had not identified himself as a journalist after the British broadcaster said one of their staff had been arrested and beaten by police. “Based on what we learned from relevant Shanghai authorities, he did not identify himself as a journalist and didn’t voluntarily present his press credentials,” foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, telling international media to “follow Chinese laws and regulations while in China”. The BBC said on Sunday one of its journalists in China had been arrested and beaten by police while covering protests against the country’s zero-Covid policy. Hundreds of people took to the streets in China’s major cities on Sunday in a rare outpouring of public anger against the state. “The BBC is extremely concerned about the treatment of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while covering the protests in Shanghai,” the broadcaster said in a statement. Lawrence, working in the country as an accredited journalist, was detained for several hours, during which time he was beaten and kicked by police, according to the BBC. He was later released. “It is very worrying that one of our journalists was attacked in this way whilst carrying out his duties. We have had no official explanation or apology from the Chinese authorities, beyond a claim by the officials who later released him that they had arrested him for his own good in case he caught Covid from the crowd. We do not consider this a credible explanation,” the statement added. Edward Lawrence later took to Twitter to thank people for their kinds words and messages of concern. “A statement from the BBC on what happened to me in Shanghai last night while doing my job. I understand at least one local national was arrested after trying to stop the police from beating me. Thanks very much for the kind words and messages of concern,” he tweeted.

A statement from the BBC on what happened to me in Shanghai last night while doing my job.

I understand at least one local national was arrested after trying to stop the police from beating me.

Thanks very much for the kind words and messages of concern. https://t.co/weoDAMakvO

— Edward Lawrence (@EP_Lawrence) November 28, 2022

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