ABC added that Bertels, for example, was planning a farewell drink when police visited his apartment apartment and told him he had been barred from leaving the country, and asked him the next day to inquire about a “national security case.” Will be called. The broadcaster did not say what inquiries were made about Burtles.
The two journalists then sought refuge in the Australian Australian diplomatic missions in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively, while Canberra negotiated with Chinese officials and allowed them to leave the country. The standoff lasted five days before the travel ban was lifted and they managed to fly back to Sydney.
CNN Business has reached out to China’s Foreign Ministry about the case, but has not yet received a response.
Australian Foreign Minister Mary Payne said in a statement that the government had “provided consular assistance to two Australian journalists in China to help them return to Australia.”
“It was very disappointing to leave under those circumstances,” Burtels told ABC on Tuesday.
“Returning to a country ruled by true law is a relief,” he added. “It was a whirlwind and not a particularly good experience.”
The AFRA quoted Smith as saying he “returned home safely after five difficult days.”
He added, “A late night visit by the police to my home was intimidating and unnecessary and now all foreign journalists cover the pressures that are under way in China.”
The two men are believed to have parted ways for the first time in decades when there are no accredited Australian media reporters in China.
The Australian Australian newspaper reported on Tuesday that Canberra had advised its China correspondent Will Glasgow against deportation. Glasgow is currently in Australia but was due to travel to Guangzhou last Sunday before receiving advice, he said on Twitter.
Tensions between China and Australia have been rising for months. After Australia called for an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus epidemic, Beijing suspended some meat imports and imposed heavy tariffs on barley in view of its trade.
This is a developing story.
CNN’s Chandler Thurrant contributed to this report.
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