Beijing:
Chinese authorities have detained a Chinese national working for the Bloomberg news bureau in Beijing on suspicion of endangering national safety, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
According to the report, Haze Fan was noticed becoming escorted from her apartment constructing by plain garments safety officials on Monday.
“Chinese citizen Ms. Fan has been detained by the Beijing National Security Bureau according to relevant Chinese law on suspicion of engaging in criminal activities that jeopardize national security. The case is currently under investigation. Ms. Fan’s legitimate rights have been fully ensured and her family has been notified,” Bloomberg quoted Chinese authorities as saying.
China’s foreign ministry did not promptly respond to a request for comment. The Beijing National Security Bureau could not promptly be reached for comment.
“We are very concerned for her, and have been actively speaking to Chinese authorities to better understand the situation. We are continuing to do everything we can to support her while we seek more information,” a spokeswoman for New York-primarily based Bloomberg stated in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Fan has worked for Bloomberg given that 2017 and previously worked for CNBC, CBS News, Al Jazeera and Reuters, Bloomberg reported.
Chinese nationals working for foreign media outlets in China are categorized as news assistants.
Foreign media operating in China have come below escalating stress, and China has expelled more than a dozen foreign journalists at U.S. media organizations this year by cancelling their press credentials amid worsening relations involving Beijing and Washington.
In August, authorities in Beijing detained Cheng Lei, a China-born Australian citizen working for Chinese state-run broadcaster CGTN, on suspicion of illegal activities that endangered China’s national safety.
In September, Australia helped two Australian foreign correspondents leave China soon after they had been questioned by China’s state safety ministry.