Missing Hong Kong journalist after trip to China. : Analysis

Taipei, Taiwan – A reporter from the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based newspaper owned by Alibaba, has reportedly gone missing in China. Minnie Chan, an award-winning reporter specializing in Chinese defense and diplomacy, had traveled to Beijing to attend the Xiangshan Forum but has since become unreachable, raising concerns that she may have been detained by Chinese authorities. The Japanese news outlet Kyodo News reported the news on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The South China Morning Post has not responded to requests for comment from Al Jazeera. Kyodo News stated that the Post has claimed Chan is on “personal leave,” but has not provided further details due to privacy concerns.

Chan has been working for the Post since 2005, as stated on the newspaper’s website. In her most recent article published on November 1, she discussed China’s role in mediating the conflict in Gaza.

Al Jazeera spoke to a Facebook friend of Chan, who mentioned that her WhatsApp account last showed her online on the afternoon of November 2. They also noted that her recent activity on Facebook has been “very strange.” Chan’s last Facebook post, featuring holiday photos, was dated November 11, deviating from her usual posts that include her latest articles and commentary in Chinese. She has not responded to comments from friends asking about her whereabouts.

Andrei “Pinkov” Chang, a Chinese military expert who had professional contact with Chan, mentioned in a public Facebook post that she was always responsive to his messages. However, she stopped communicating in November.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed deep concern for Chan’s safety in a statement issued on Friday, stating that they are seeking more information from the South China Morning Post.

China has been named the world’s worst jailer of journalists after Iran, with at least 43 journalists detained in December of last year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Chinese authorities have the power to detain suspects for up to 37 days before making an official arrest. After that, suspects can be detained for another 13.5 months before formal charges are made by prosecutors, according to the Canadian travel advisory. It is worth noting that China’s courts, which are controlled by the ruling Communist Party, have an almost 100 percent conviction rate for those who stand trial.

Source: Aljazeera news: Hong Kong journalist reported missing after trip to China