Australian journalists Bill Birtles, Mike Smith forced out of China

AFR journalist Mike Smith with ABC journalist Bill Birtles as they prepared to leave China on Monday night.

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Two Australian journalists working in China have arrived in Sydney after a diplomatic stand off in which police demanded interviews with both reporters. The China correspondents for The Australian Financial Review and the ABC boarded a flight to Sydney on Monday night after spending five days under protection in Australian diplomatic missions. State security officers visited the homes of Bill Birtles, the ABC's correspondent based in Beijing and Mike Smith, the AFR's correspondent based in Shanghai, after midnight on Wednesday last week, telling them they were persons of interest in a national security case.

The move came days after the Chinese government confirmed the arrest of Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist working for Chinese state media. The concerns began early last week when Australian diplomats in China cautioned both journalists they should leave China. Advice to both media organisations led to them booking flights to Australia for their correspondents.

Seven uniformed officers simultaneously visited the homes of Smith in Shanghai and Birtles in Beijing at 12:30am on Thursday. The reporters were told they were banned from leaving the country and needed to organise a time to be questioned over a "national security case. Birtles then sought refuge in Australia's Beijing diplomatic compound for five days while Smith went to the Shanghai consulate.

After high-level negotiations between Australian and Chinese officials, the reporters were interviewed by China's Ministry of State Security and allowed to leave the country on Monday night. Birtles and Smith were the last journalists working for Australian media organisations in China meaning there are no accredited reporters from Australia in the country for the first time since the mid-1970s.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have been waiting for Chinese authorities to approve a visa for their Beijing correspondent, Eryk Bagshaw, since an application was submitted in November. In July, the mastheads were advised the visa would not be approved this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The national editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Tory Maguire, said the treatment of Birtles and Smith was deeply concerning and has made it almost impossible for Australian news outlets to operate in China at present.

She said, the Herald and The Age are committed for the long term to providing comprehensive coverage of China and its relationship with Australia and the region. Eryk has been doing an excellent job from here and will continue to be focused on his beat while we explore our options.

The China correspondent for The Australian newspaper will Glasgow, is currently in Australia and was due to return to Beijing shortly. The Australian reported it had been advised by the federal government against sending him back.

Smith saidafter landing in Sydney on Tuesday, morning the late-night visit by police at my home was intimidating and unnecessary and highlights the pressure all foreign journalists are under in China right now. It's great to be back home safely after a difficult five days.

AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury and editor Paul Bailey said the incident targeting two journalists who were going about their normal reporting duties, is both regrettable and disturbing and is not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China"

Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed the government had provided consular support to two Australian journalists in China to assist their return home. Those Australians have now arrived in Australia. Our embassy in Beijing and consulate general in Shanghai engaged with Chinese government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia. Our current travel advice for China, which was updated on July 7, remains appropriate and unchanged. We encourage all Australians who are overseas or are seeking to travel to closely monitor Smartraveller. The Australian government continues to provide consular support to Australian citizens detained in China including Ms Cheng Lei. We are unable to provide further comment owing to privacy obligations.