In the Guardian Comment is Free, CPJ Senior Asia Program Researcher Madeline Earp argues; in China “reform and opening-up is not possible without a free and independent media. China’s leaders must make, and meet, specific commitments to release imprisoned journalists and allow independent reporting and comment, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. Chinese journalists, intellectuals, and even Communist party reformers, are calling for it. The question is, will China listen?”
Earp’s commentary coincided with the publication of CPJ’s special report “In China, a debate on press rights.”