Chinese embassy warns of 'wider implications' over Foreign Correspondent story on Xinjiang conflict
Updated 4 minutes agoTue 30 Sep 2014, 3:09pm
Video: Stephen McDonell has a run-in with Chinese minders in Xinjiang
Photo: A Chinese official films the ABC's Stephen McDonell as he interviews a local iman in Xinjiang (Wayne McAllister)
Related Story: Read about Foreign Correspondent's trip to Xinjiang
Map: Australia
Senior Chinese officials have warned the ABC there will be "wider implications" over tonight's Foreign Correspondent story about unrest in western China.
ABC China correspondent Stephen McDonell and cameraman Wayne McAllister recently travelled to China's western province of Xinjiang to investigate reports of conflict in the homeland of Turkic-speaking ethnic Uighurs.
Hundreds of people have died during the past year in the province – sometimes as a result of knife or bomb attacks on random members of the public, sometimes following what appear to have been disputes which have spun out of control.
ABC communications director Michael Millett confirmed "fairly senior" officials from the Chinese embassy had met with the ABC's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney to ask it not to screen the show, which will go to air at 8:00pm tonight.
"The meeting was about two weeks ago and lasted about an hour," he said.
"They were polite and forcefully aired concerns about the Foreign Correspondent program, which will air tonight.
"I think they were concerned about being unfairly portrayed in the story about the situation in the north-west region."
Mr Millett said the officials did tell the meeting there would be "wider implications" if the program aired.
The ABC has business relationships with CCTV and Shanghai Media Group, where the broadcaster's content is aired and published.
Senior Chinese officials have warned the ABC there will be "wider implications" over tonight's Foreign Correspondent story about unrest in western China.
ABC China correspondent Stephen McDonell and cameraman Wayne McAllister recently travelled to China's western province of Xinjiang to investigate reports of conflict in the homeland of Turkic-speaking ethnic Uighurs.
Hundreds of people have died during the past year in the province – sometimes as a result of knife or bomb attacks on random members of the public, sometimes following what appear to have been disputes which have spun out of control.
ABC communications director Michael Millett confirmed "fairly senior" officials from the Chinese embassy had met with the ABC's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney to ask it not to screen the show, which will go to air at 8:00pm tonight.
"The meeting was about two weeks ago and lasted about an hour," he said.
"They were polite and forcefully aired concerns about the Foreign Correspondent program, which will air tonight.
"I think they were concerned about being unfairly portrayed in the story about the situation in the north-west region."
Mr Millett said the officials did tell the meeting there would be "wider implications" if the program aired.
The ABC has business relationships with CCTV and Shanghai Media Group, where the broadcaster's content is aired and published.
Senior Chinese officials have warned the ABC there will be "wider implications" over tonight's Foreign Correspondent story about unrest in western China.
ABC China correspondent Stephen McDonell and cameraman Wayne McAllister recently travelled to China's western province of Xinjiang to investigate reports of conflict in the homeland of Turkic-speaking ethnic Uighurs.
Hundreds of people have died during the past year in the province – sometimes as a result of knife or bomb attacks on random members of the public, sometimes following what appear to have been disputes which have spun out of control.
ABC communications director Michael Millett confirmed "fairly senior" officials from the Chinese embassy had met with the ABC's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney to ask it not to screen the show, which will go to air at 8:00pm tonight.
"The meeting was about two weeks ago and lasted about an hour," he said.
"They were polite and forcefully aired concerns about the Foreign Correspondent program, which will air tonight.
"I think they were concerned about being unfairly portrayed in the story about the situation in the north-west region."
Mr Millett said the officials did tell the meeting there would be "wider implications" if the program aired.
The ABC has business relationships with CCTV and Shanghai Media Group, where the broadcaster's content is aired and published.
Senior Chinese officials have warned the ABC there will be "wider implications" over tonight's Foreign Correspondent story about unrest in western China.
ABC China correspondent Stephen McDonell and cameraman Wayne McAllister recently travelled to China's western province of Xinjiang to investigate reports of conflict in the homeland of Turkic-speaking ethnic Uighurs.
Hundreds of people have died during the past year in the province – sometimes as a result of knife or bomb attacks on random members of the public, sometimes following what appear to have been disputes which have spun out of control.
ABC communications director Michael Millett confirmed "fairly senior" officials from the Chinese embassy had met with the ABC's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney to ask it not to screen the show, which will go to air at 8:00pm tonight.
"The meeting was about two weeks ago and lasted about an hour," he said.
"They were polite and forcefully aired concerns about the Foreign Correspondent program, which will air tonight.
"I think they were concerned about being unfairly portrayed in the story about the situation in the north-west region."
Mr Millett said the officials did tell the meeting there would be "wider implications" if the program aired.
The ABC has business relationships with CCTV and Shanghai Media Group, where the broadcaster's content is aired and published.