China expels foreign journalists and restricts coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests
After declaring martial law in Beijing on May 20, 1989, China's government imposed rigid restrictions on coverage of pro-democracy protests and, following the military's June 3-4 clearing of Tiananmen Square, expelled Associated Press correspondent John Pomfret and Voice of America correspondent Alan Pessin.123
- Country
- China (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)
- Where
- CN
- Level of government
- National
- Tactics
- Expulsion and visa denial, Access bans
- Stage
- Punish (see the ladder)
- Head of government at the time
- Li Peng
- Issue of the day
- Student-led pro-democracy protests had occupied Tiananmen Square for weeks before the government declared martial law and then used the military to clear the square in early June 1989, and moved to control international coverage of the events that followed.
- Outcome
- Sustained, January 1, 1990. Martial law in Beijing was lifted in January 1990, but broad Chinese government controls on foreign press coverage continued well beyond that date.
- Era
- The 1980s
What happened
China's government, headed by Premier Li Peng, declared martial law in Beijing on May 20, 1989, as student-led pro-democracy protests centered on Tiananmen Square continued, and imposed rigid restrictions on how foreign and domestic media could cover the demonstrations. After the military cleared the square by force on June 3 and 4, 1989, an operation that led to over 900 arrests within days, the government ordered two American journalists, Associated Press correspondent John Pomfret and Voice of America correspondent Alan Pessin, to leave the country within 72 hours on June 14, 1989. Authorities accused Pomfret of frequent contacts with the leaders of organizations it had banned and of obtaining state secrets through means it prohibited, and accused Pessin of writing stories the government said distorted facts and incited unrest. The official Communist Party newspaper, People's Daily, separately protested the United States embassy's decision to shelter dissident scientist Fang Lizhi as a violation of Chinese sovereignty.123
What reason was given
Chinese authorities accused Pomfret of obtaining state secrets through means it prohibited and maintaining contact with organizers from groups it had banned, and accused Pessin of distorting facts and inciting unrest through his reporting.2
What changed for reporting
Two American correspondents were given 72 hours to leave China, foreign and domestic media operated under rigid martial-law restrictions on covering the protests and the military operation that ended them, and broader controls on reporting the events continued in their aftermath.3
Timeline
1989
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Alan W. Pessin | other | Correspondent, Voice of America |
| John Pomfret | other | Correspondent, Associated Press |
| Li Peng | enforced | Premier of the People's Republic of China |
Sources
Claims cited
- Associated Press correspondent John Pomfret and Voice of America correspondent Alan Pessin were both ordered to leave China within 72 hours on June 14, 1989.
having frequent contacts with illegal organization leaders, passing on information to and providing shelter for them
China expels two American journalists, UPI Archives, 1989-06-14. Claim 195, checked 2026-09-22. - Authorities accused Pessin of writing stories to distort facts, spread rumor and incite and stir up turmoil and what the government called counter-revolutionary rebellion.
writing stories to distort facts, spread rumor and incite and stir up turmoil and counter-revolutionary rebellion
China expels two American journalists, UPI Archives, 1989-06-14. Claim 196, checked 2026-09-22. - Martial law was declared on May 20, 1989, and the government imposed rigid restrictions on news coverage of the pro-democracy demonstrations that followed.
rigid restrictions
China expels two American journalists, UPI Archives, 1989-06-14. Claim 197, checked 2026-09-22.