The BBC expressed “strong condemnation” after reporting that its World Service shortwave radio broadcasts were being jammed in China.
“The BBC strongly condemns this action which is designed to disrupt audiences’ free access to news and information,” the corporation said in a statement on Monday.
While it was not possible to determine the source of the blocking, the BBC suggest that it was a deliberate move by authorities in China where media is heavily filtered.
BBC said the “extensive and coordinated efforts are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China.”
“The jamming of shortwave transmissions is being timed to cause maximum disruption to BBC World Service English broadcasts in China,” BBC director of global news Peter Horrocks said.
“The deliberate and coordinated efforts by authorities in countries such as China and Iran illustrate the significance and importance of the role the BBC undertakes to provide impartial and accurate information to audiences around the world,” he said.
It was not the first time the BBC had complained of disruption to its satellite services in recent years. Less common shortwave jamming has previously hit its Persian broadcasts in Iran, AFP reports.
