South China Morning Post reporter, has mysteriously disappeared while on a professional assignment in China, according to reports from a Japanese news agency. The sudden and unexplained absence of the reporter has sparked widespread concern and speculation, with many fearing that she may have been arrested by Chinese authorities.
A reporter with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post has gone missing in China after a work trip, according to a report https://t.co/ltA4HRewrs pic.twitter.com/DRGcSrRKpj
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 1, 2023
Minnie Chan, a journalist who has received numerous awards for her work in the fields of Chinese defence and diplomacy, embarked on a journey to Beijing with the purpose of attending the Xiangshan Forum. This forum is a significant security conference that spans over three days. However, following the conclusion of the conference on October 31, all attempts to establish contact with her have been unsuccessful, according to a report by Kyodo News on Thursday.
The South China Morning Post, a renowned publication that falls under the ownership of Alibaba, has remained silent on the matter. Despite attempts by Al Jazeera to elicit a comment, the newspaper has not issued any response.
In a report by Kyodo News, it was revealed that the South China Morning Post had stated that Minnie Chan was on “personal leave”. However, the publication did not provide any additional details or context to this statement, citing privacy concerns as the reason for their reticence.
Chan has been a dedicated member of the South China Morning Post team for an extended period, having joined the newspaper in 2005, as stated on the publication’s official website. Her tenure at the Post spans over nearly two decades, during which she has contributed numerous insightful articles and reports.
Her most recent contribution, published on November 1, delved into the role of China as a mediator in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
A friend of Chan, who is connected with her on Facebook, shared some interesting details with Al Jazeera. According to this friend, Chan’s WhatsApp account indicated that she was last active on the platform on the afternoon of November 2. And her recent Facebook activities were quite unusual, which raised some concerns.
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The most recent post on Chan’s Facebook page, dated November 11, deviates from her typical content. Instead of featuring her latest articles and Chinese-language commentary, as is her usual practice, this post photographs from a holiday.
Adding to the mystery, Chan has remained unresponsive to comments on this post, particularly those inquiring about her current location.
Andrei “Pinkov” Chang, a respected expert in Chinese military affairs who had professional interactions with Chan, shared his observations in a public Facebook post. Chang noted that Chan had always been prompt and polite in responding to his messages.
However, he pointed out a noticeable change in her behavior starting from November. To his surprise, Chan, who was usually quick to respond, had suddenly stopped replying to his messages.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), expressed its deep concern for Minnie Chan’s safety in a statement released on Friday. The association is evidently alarmed by the unusual silence and absence of Chan from her regular online activities.
In an effort to gather more information and understand the situation better, the HKJA has reached out to the Post. They have requested additional details about Chan’s situation, hoping that the Post could shed some light on the matter.
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According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, China held an alarming record in the previous year as the country with the second-highest number of incarcerated journalists, surpassed only by Iran. The situation was particularly dire in December of that year, with at least 43 journalists reported to be in detention.
The law enforcement system in China has certain unique procedures. The Chinese police have the authority to detain a suspect for a period of up to 37 days without making an official arrest. This initial detention period allows the police to conduct preliminary investigations and gather evidence, as reported canadian travel advisory.
Even after the arrest, the suspect can still be detained for an extended period before any formal charges are filed by the prosecutors. This extended detention period can last for as long as 13.5 months.
In China, the judicial system operates under the influence of the ruling Communist Party. This has led to a striking statistic, the conviction rate for individuals who stand trial in Chinese courts is nearly 100 percent.
However, it’s important to note that this statistic doesn’t necessarily reflect the fairness or impartiality of the Chinese judicial system.
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