Chinese โคjournalist Zhang Zhan Receives additional Four-Year Sentence
Shanghai, China – Journalistโข Zhang Zhan, known for her autonomous reporting on the early stagesโ of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, has โbeen sentenced to anโ additional four years in prison, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) confirmed Friday. The sentencing adds to a previous four-year termโข she receivedโข in 2020, effectively โextending her imprisonment for her โcoverage of the pandemic’s initial impact in China.
Zhang’s continued detention and this latest sentencing underscore the escalating suppression of independent journalism within China, where authorities maintain tight control over details. Her case highlights the risks faced by citizen journalists and those who attempt to document sensitive issues, particularly those critical of the government’s response to crises. wiht at least 124 media workers currently imprisoned, โChina holdsโ the world’s largest number of incarcerated journalists, according to RSF.
According to court documents reviewed by Reuters, Zhang initiated a hunger strike following an earlier arrest, leading to authorities forcibly feeding her via a tube while her hands were โrestrained. Sheโค was initially released in May 2024 but re-detained three monthsโค later, culminating in her formal โขarrest and placement inโ the Pudong Detention Centerโฃ in Shanghai.
The new charges against Zhang, based on โคcomments madeโค on overseas websites, were publiclyโ unspecified by Chinese authorities. Her former lawyer, Ren, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, arguing that she should not be held accountable forโ these online statements.
“This is the second time โฃZhang Zhan has faced โtrial on baseless charges that amount to nothing more than a blatant act of persecution for her journalism work,” stated beh Lih Yi,Asia-pacific director for the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Chinese authorities must put an end to the arbitrary โฃdetention ofโค Zhang, drop all charges, and free her instantly.”
China ranked 178th out of 180 countries and territoriesโ in โthe 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, reflecting the severe constraints โฃplaced on media โfreedom within the nation.โ The sentencing comes just a week after Chinese lawmakers passed legislationโฃ aimed at โคstreamlining public health emergency responses, โขallowing citizens to report incidents directly, bypassing customary government channels.