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BEIJING: The European Union has urged China to release all journalists and citizens detained in connection with its reports, following the arrest of a Bloomberg News employee.
Haze Fan, a Chinese national, was taken from her home by plainclothes security agents on Monday (December 7), Bloomberg said, and Beijing said she had been detained on suspicion of endangering national security.
“All those arrested and detained in connection with their reporting activity must be released immediately,” an EU spokesman said in a statement on Saturday.
The statement mentioned that “other Chinese journalists or citizens have disappeared this year, or have been detained or harassed after participating in a report.”
“We hope that the Chinese authorities will grant (Fan) medical assistance if he needs it, quick access to a lawyer of his choice and contacts with his family,” he added.
China’s Foreign Ministry previously said that Fan’s case was under investigation.
Bloomberg said he was “very concerned about her” and kept seeking more information.
LEE: Bloomberg News Chinese staff member detained in Beijing
The government prohibits Chinese citizens from working as reporters for foreign news organizations in China, but they are allowed to work as news assistants.
Fan, who joined Bloomberg in 2017, has been recognized as a contributor on numerous business stories.
His arrest comes months after China detained a high-profile Chinese-born Australian journalist, citing similar suspicions.
Cheng Lei, a television host for the Chinese state media CGTN, has not been seen in public since he was arrested.
Two other Australian reporters, Bill Birtles and Michael Smith, fled China shortly after being questioned about Cheng.
