Reporters Without Borders says 110 journalists and three media workers are currently detained in China….reports Asian Lite News
China remains the world’s largest prison for journalists, with authorities continuing a wide ranging crackdown on independent reporting and the right to information, according to the latest annual survey by Reporters Without Borders.
The report states that 110 journalists and three media workers are currently in detention in China, reflecting what it describes as a sustained campaign of repression. Authorities have allegedly relied on surveillance, coercion, intimidation and harassment to prevent journalists from reporting on issues considered sensitive.
China ranks 178th out of 180 countries in the global press freedom index, placing it near the bottom alongside North Korea and Eritrea. The ranking marks a decline from the previous year and highlights systemic restrictions across political, legal, social and economic indicators.
The report also draws attention to the case of journalist Zhang Zhan. In March, RSF condemned Chinese authorities for denying her access to legal counsel and isolating her from the outside world following her second conviction in September 2025 on what it described as trumped up charges.
According to RSF, Zhan was sentenced to four years in prison after a closed door trial on the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Her ability to appeal the verdict has been obstructed due to lack of access to independent legal representation, while her lawyers have faced continued harassment.
The organisation said that diplomats from several countries and activists attempting to observe the proceedings were barred from entry, with some briefly detained. Requests by her legal team to meet her have reportedly been consistently rejected.
Zhan is currently being held at Shanghai’s Pudong Detention Center, marking her second period of imprisonment. She was first arrested in May 2020 after reporting from Wuhan during the Covid 19 outbreak, where she published more than 100 videos online.
RSF has called on the international community to intensify pressure on Beijing to end what it described as the persecution of Zhang Zhan, ensure her safety and access to medical care, and secure her immediate release.
The findings reinforce concerns over tightening controls on journalism in China, where independent reporting continues to face severe and systemic constraints.
