China Holds Unwanted Title as World Leader in Detained Journalists: "110 Detained Including in Hong Kong"

Reporters Without Borders: 533 Journalists Detained Worldwide This Year
China 110, Myanmar 62, Iran 47, Russia 18 in Order

'Reporters Without Borders' logo on a smartphone screen. Photo by EPA·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced on the 14th (local time) that the number of journalists detained worldwide for news reporting this year reached a record high of 533.

RSF reported in its annual press freedom report that as of December 1 this year, a total of 533 people worldwide were detained for reporting duties. This is an increase of 63 people (13.4%) compared to last year's 470.

Additionally, the number of journalists who died while performing reporting duties this year rose from 48 last year to 57, due to the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war and other factors.

RSF pointed out, "Authoritarian regimes are increasingly boldly detaining journalists who interfere with their power, and most are detained without even being brought to trial."

RSF stated that among the currently detained journalists, only one-third have been convicted in court, while the remaining two-thirds are detained without trial, and some journalists have been waiting for trial in detention for over 20 years.

RSF evaluated, "China, including Hong Kong, detains 110 people, making it the country with the most journalists imprisoned in the world," adding, "Censorship and surveillance in China have reached an extreme level."

Myanmar currently detains 62 people, and RSF pointed out that journalism itself has effectively become a criminal act since last year's military coup. It also added that Iran detained 47 journalists two months after large-scale anti-government protests broke out.

Furthermore, RSF reported that virtually all independent media are banned in Russia, and currently 18 journalists, including 8 from Ukraine, are detained.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.