Floods in Tibet: restrictions and disinformation by China are impeding vital news

Bad news!

Remember China illegally occupies Tibet since 1950!

There have been multiple news reports by different sources that again (like Covid-19) the Communist Party of China is secretive and repressive about the scope and damages of this latest natural catastrophy.

"Censorship in Tibet

In neighbouring Tibet, the difficulties in accessing information are even more worrying, and the contrast with Nepal is striking. At the time of writing, no independent Tibetan media outlet or international news organisation has been allowed access to the disaster-stricken area, according to RSF information.

This reflects a long-standing practice of the Chinese regime, which exercises some of the strictest control in the world over media professionals. As RSF has long noted, only journalists pre-approved by the authorities have been allowed to enter the territory, generally as part of tightly monitored reporting missions.

In the wake of the disaster, the Chinese regime only authorised state media to cover the floods, with reports emphasising the regime’s achievements and successes in relief efforts rather than providing a comprehensive account of the scale and impact of the disaster. According to the Chinese state-run newspaper Xinjing Bao (The Beijing News), the authorities have also punished at least ten internet users for “spreading rumours” related to the disaster. ...

“In recent years, under Xi Jinping’s tenure, Tibet has become a de facto information black hole. No independent Tibetan media, nor any international media, are permitted to freely cover news from this region. ..." ..."

Floods in Nepal and Tibet: restrictions and disinformation are impeding vital news | RSF "As the list of identified victims and missing persons continues to grow, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is sounding the alarm about the obstacles preventing the public from accessing vital information following the floods that struck Nepal and Tibet on 26 August.

In Nepal, partial cuts to telephone and electricity networks, the lack of accessibility to certain disaster zones and misinformation on social media are hindering journalists’ reporting.

In Tibet, these obstacles are compounded by restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities, who are preventing the press from freely accessing affected areas. This lack of access to reliable information is also fuelling the spread of false reports about the scale and consequences of the disaster."