In China, reporting the truth can come at the cost of freedom. Journalists who investigate sensitive issues, question government policies or expose wrongdoing risk surveillance, detention and imprisonment. China continues to hold more journalists behind bars than any other country, according to international press freedom organisations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recorded 50 imprisoned journalists, including seven in Hong Kong, as of December 1, 2025. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports even higher numbers, reflecting differences in monitoring methods. From the suppression of independent reporting to the use of national security laws, these findings reveal how restrictions on journalism affect public access to information and raise serious concerns about freedom of expression.
China Leads Global Journalist Imprisonment
According to CPJ’s 2025 Prison Census, published on January 21, 2026, China remained the leading jailer of journalists for the third consecutive year.
Of the 330 journalists imprisoned worldwide, 50 were held in China, followed by Myanmar with 30 and Israel with 29. At least 34 journalists detained in China faced broad anti-state charges, including subversion and inciting subversion. Meanwhile, RSF placed China 178th out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, highlighting severe restrictions on independent media.
When Journalism Becomes a Criminal Offence
Chinese authorities frequently use national security and public order laws in cases involving journalists. Press freedom organisations argue that broadly defined offences can criminalise legitimate reporting and discourage investigation into politically sensitive matters.
Veteran journalist Dong Yuyu illustrates these concerns. Arrested in February 2022 after meeting a Japanese diplomat, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for espionage in November 2024. His appeal was rejected in November 2025. His family disputes the accusations, while CPJ maintains that meeting diplomats is a normal part of journalism.
Independent Voices Under Pressure
The case of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan demonstrates the risks of reporting outside official channels. Zhang attracted international attention for documenting the early COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan in 2020. After serving a four-year prison sentence, she was detained again in August 2024. In September 2025, she received another four-year sentence for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a charge criticised by international rights organisations. Such cases can create fear among reporters, encouraging self-censorship even without direct government intervention.
Xinjiang and Hong Kong Face Particular Scrutiny
Reporting on Xinjiang remains especially difficult. Journalists investigating Uyghur communities, detention policies and human rights allegations face extensive restrictions and surveillance. CPJ has also documented the imprisonment of journalists from ethnic minority communities.
In Hong Kong, national security legislation has increased concerns about the shrinking space for independent reporting. Seven journalists detained there were included in CPJ’s 2025 China figures. The imprisonment of media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai has become a prominent example of the territory’s changing press environment.
China’s Position and International Concerns
Beijing maintains that national security laws are necessary to protect public order and that legal action targets unlawful conduct rather than legitimate journalism.
However, international press freedom organisations argue that vague legal provisions, extensive censorship and restricted judicial transparency leave journalists vulnerable to prosecution.
The difference between these positions’ centres on a fundamental question: where does legitimate national security enforcement end and suppression of independent journalism begin?
Why Press Freedom Matters Beyond China
Imprisoning journalists affects more than individual reporters. It limits public knowledge, weakens independent scrutiny and makes it harder to investigate corruption, human rights violations and abuses of authority.
China’s record also raises broader questions about access to reliable information in one of the world’s most influential countries. A journalist’s duty is to investigate and inform. When reporting carries the risk of imprisonment, the consequences extend beyond the newsroom to society’s ability to understand the truth. China’s imprisoned journalists therefore represent not only a national press freedom concern but also an international challenge to the public’s right to know.