Why is it important to have Australian journalists reporting from China or any country in which they are posted?

The Australian Federal Police have arrested a member of Victoria's South-East Asian Chinese community under foreign interference laws. It is another in what seems to be a series of tit-for-tat events that highlight tension in the Australia-China relationship. Another was the departure of two Australian journalists from China in September. What are the short and long-term impact of their departure?

In September it was revealed that the prominent television presenter, Cheng Lie, had been held by Chinese authorities on suspicion of “national security” offenc Source: Photo by Getty/BBC 08 Sep

Bill Birtles and Mike Smith returned home from China after security officials paid them late-night visits.  There was concern about the impact of their return on Australian access to news on the ground.  However, Dr Nasya Bahfen a senior lecturer in the Department of Media and Communications at La Trobe, says the ramifications are broader and more worrying.

Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3 pm. Follow us on Facebook and catch us on podcasts. 

And you can keep abreast of the latest information about the corona virus in your language at sbs.com.au/coronavirus

After visits from Chinese security, Australian journalist Bill Birtles took refuge in the Australian Embassy in Beijing before returning to Australia. Source: Photo byToby Simkin/Creative Commons