NGO concerned about South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan, 3 years after apparent disappearance

NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concern over the apparent disappearance of South China Morning Post (SCMP) reporter Minnie Chan, nearly three years ago. Chan, known for her work on defence issues, was last heard from in October 2023 while covering the Xiangshan Forum, a security conference in Beijing. RSF claims there has been no news of Chan's whereabouts since, as various sources in China believe she is being held by the Chinese regime on undisclosed national-security-related charges, potentially facing up to ten years in prison.

RSF could not verify these claims or find evidence of her detention. RSF's Asia-Pacific Bureau Advocacy Officer, Aleksandra Bielakowska, called for Chan's whereabouts to be made public and urged the international community to secure her release, emphasizing her talent and lack of involvement in wrongdoing. When asked in 2023, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied any knowledge of Chan’s situation.

RSF had reached out to SCMP, requesting information about Chan's current employment status, detention confirmation, and charges, as well as details on support provided should she be detained. However, SCMP did not respond to RSF's inquiries, and HKFP, a regional news outlet, reported that SCMP threatened legal action over HKFP's initial coverage of Chan's disappearance without disputing the claims.

RSF highlighted China's status as the "world's largest prison for journalists," with over 100 journalists currently incarcerated. Other notable cases include Bloomberg journalist Haze Fan, who disappeared in China in 2020 but was released on bail in 2022, and Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was held in China from 2020 to 2023. In 2015, Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai vanished in Thailand before being imprisoned in China.