Harsh repression of independent journalism in China: COVID reporter sentenced again

On September 20, 2025, Chinese citizen-journalist Zhang Zhan was sentenced to an additional four years in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF-Reporters Sans Frontières). Zhang initially received a four-year sentence in December 2020 after documenting Wuhan’s early COVID-19 outbreak, presenting firsthand reports and videos that contradicted the official narrative. Zhang’s reporting exposed overcrowded hospitals and deserted streets during the initial months of the pandemic, shedding light on conditions the Chinese government was criticized for covering up.

After her initial imprisonment, Zhang went on hunger strike and was forcibly fed through a tube, experiencing deteriorated health. Released in May 2024, she was detained again three months later, subsequently placed in Shanghai's Pudong Detention Center. RSF and other press freedom organizations view her sentencing as a continuation of the Chinese government's harsh crackdown on independent journalism. Aleksandra Bielakowska of RSF called Zhang an “information hero,” urging international diplomatic pressure for her immediate release. Similarly, Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the charges as baseless persecution for her journalism.

Chinese authorities have not publicly specified the exact activities leading to Zhang’s charges this time. Her former lawyer suggested the charges relate to comments Zhang made on overseas websites, rather than her initial COVID reporting.

Fact Check

independent reports and leaked documents from early 2020 confirm that Wuhan hospitals were indeed overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and that the Chinese government initially tried to hide or downplay how serious the outbreak was. China’s official story said the situation was under control early on, but journalists like Zhang Zhan showed the harsher reality by reporting crowded hospitals and strict lockdowns that the government did not want widely known. This evidence supports that Zhang’s original reporting about the situation was truthful and important.

Analysis

The judicial justification for Zhang’s sentencing is dubious. The charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” is a vague legal tool frequently used by Chinese authorities to silence dissent and critical journalism. Zhang’s recordings provided crucial public health information during a global crisis, and punishing her undermines transparency and press freedom. Her harsh treatment reflects China’s broader pattern of repressing independent voices under the guise of national stability.

China remains the world’s largest jailer of journalists, with over 120 media workers imprisoned as of 2025. It ranked 178th out of 180 countries in the 2025 RSF Press Freedom Index. Notably, just a week before Zhang’s sentencing, China passed legislation to accelerate public health emergency responses, signaling a tightening grip on citizen reporting about crises.

Zhang Zhan’s imprisonment spotlights severe human rights and press freedom concerns in China. Her initial COVID-19 reports were factually accurate and vital, contrasting with official denial. Her continued detention under unclear charges is a stark warning regarding China’s intolerance of independent journalism, raising urgent calls for global diplomatic intervention.