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No longer (gladly) seen in China: headquarters of the British broadcaster BBC in London
Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS / REUTERS
Diplomatic tensions between China and the UK continue to grow.
After the expulsion of three Chinese diplomats and the revocation of the broadcasting license for the news channel CGTN, China is reacting by banning the international service of the British BBC, the broadcaster BBC World News.
The station was banned for "illegal content" because it violated the guidelines for reporting in the country, said the Chinese broadcasting regulator.
BBC World News is therefore no longer allowed to broadcast on mainland China.
It was said that "the new annual application for broadcasting is not accepted".
China's state film, television and radio administration said BBC World News reports on China "seriously" violated broadcast policy.
Among other things, the principle "that news should be truthful and fair" has been violated - and that it should not harm the "national interests" of China.
The Beijing government had previously repeatedly threatened retaliation for crackdown on Chinese media abroad.
Most recently, the Chinese news broadcaster CGTN was withdrawn from broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
The BBC in China had already been mentioned as a possible target for sanctions from the Chinese side.
British Foreign Secretary speaks of "curtailment of media freedom"
According to the Reuters news agency, the BBC said it was "disappointed" with the move by the Chinese authorities.
"The BBC is the most trustworthy international news broadcaster in the world and reports fair, impartial, fearless and without preference on stories from all over the world," said a spokeswoman.
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called the station's ban an "unacceptable restriction of media freedom."
Relations between Britain and China had deteriorated significantly since London sharply criticized China for the controversial security law in Hong Kong.
There were also clear words from London about China's dealings with the Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province.
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fek / AFP / Reuters
