Your rights on paper…


In their own words: Pledges by Chinese officials.

"We have no restrictions on travel for foreign journalists in China. So once they get the visa, they can travel anywhere in China."

—Sun Weijia, BOCOG's head of media operations, quoted by Reuters, September 27, 2006

“There will be no restrictions on journalists in reporting on the Olympic Games.”

—Beijing Olympics organizers in their official bid to host the 2008 Games, filed on January 17, 2001.

“China will live up to its words and will turn its words into deeds … The government will honor the promises and commitments made during our bid to host the Games.”

—Liu Qi, president of the Beijing organizing committee, at a press briefing on September 27, 2006.

China’s Constitution and numerous international covenants guarantee freedom of the press and of speech:

  • Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (1982)

Article 35: Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession, and of demonstration.

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted in 1966, entry into force in 1976, signed by China in 1998)

Article 19:

(1) Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

(2) Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice….

  • Temporary Rules and Regulations for Foreign Journalists (1/1/07 – 10/17/08)

Media freedom is one of the baseline pledges all Olympic hosts must make to be awarded the Games. While bidding for the 2008 Games in 2001, top Chinese government officials repeatedly guaranteed “full freedom” for international journalists to report. Please see the Temporary Rules and Regulations for Foreign Journalists at the end of this guide.