In mid-April this year, two independent media journalists from Macau were taken away by the police while interviewing the Macau Legislative Assembly, sparking controversy over press freedom. The incident marked the first time Macau journalists have been detained by the police, leading to concerns about the integration of Macau’s news dissemination mechanism and practices with those of mainland China.
According to a report by the BBC Chinese website on June 3, on the morning of April 17, during a governance debate at the Macau Legislative Assembly, two reporters from the independent media outlet “All About Macau” were barred from entering the assembly hall. They were subsequently surrounded and taken away for questioning by at least four police officers.
One of the reporters was Zhen Xiaodao, the chief editor of “All About Macau.” The two journalists were taken to the police station around 10 a.m. and were not allowed to leave until 9 p.m. that evening.
The Macau police stated in a press release that there were strong indications that the two individuals disrupted the operation of the institution, and the case would be referred to the prosecutor’s office for investigation.
It has been over a month since the incident occurred, and it is still unclear whether the journalists will be prosecuted by the prosecutor’s office.
Yu Weiying, a journalist working for a local small newspaper, was the only reporter present to witness the entire process that day. He worked through the night to write the story, submitting it to the editorial office at 10 p.m., but the article did not get published the next day.
It is reported that nearly all media outlets in Macau receive government funding, including the newspaper where Yu Weiying is employed. While Yu Weiying understands the limitations of the newspaper, he still feels frustrated. The unprecedented situation of journalists being taken away by the police and facing criminal charges during interviews in Macau has left him unable to publish the report.
Macanese lawyer He Ruizhi criticized the tight control of Macau society by the authorities, stating that in Macau, especially in the Chinese media, independent journalism has no place to stand.
Former vice president of the independent online media “Macaunews Daily,” Cui Zizhao, stated that the government aims to crack down on all “uncontrolled” media, with “All About Macau” being one of the few independent media outlets in Macau with a strong voice.
“All About Macau” was established in 2012 with the aim of “making things clear,” relying solely on donations and advertisements for funding. The outlet has reported on numerous local cases involving collusion between officials and businessmen, but journalists were never hindered in their reporting until about half a year ago, during the final period of former Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah’s term, when official restrictions and censorship suddenly intensified.
In Macau, registered media outlets used to receive official notifications of events for coverage. However, since October last year, only daily newspapers, weekly magazines, television stations, radio stations, and news agencies have been invited to cover events.
When Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping visited Macau for the 25th anniversary of the handover, “All About Macau” reported on increased security measures. However, the report was eventually taken down for “unavoidable” reasons. At the time, strict registration restrictions were also imposed on media attending official anniversary events, with some Hong Kong media outlets being advised not to send seasoned reporters.
This incident of journalists being taken away during the Legislative Assembly interview is the latest development in the increasing control over media in Macau.
In addition, Portuguese-language media in Macau, which previously had considerable freedom, has also faced crackdowns in recent years. In March 2021, the Macau Broadcasting Administration issued nine “patriotic” guidelines to the Portuguese news department, including requirements to “love the country and Macau” and not to speak against the central government. This event led to a wave of resignations among Portuguese journalists.
With the new government taking office in 2025, reports indicate that the new officials have avoided direct contact with the media. Even the traditionally seen as official mouthpieces, such as Macau Radio and Television and “Macau Daily,” have been unable to conduct interviews. Local veteran journalist Xu Tingting (pseudonym) expressed that Macau’s news dissemination mechanism and practices are gradually becoming “integrated with the mainland.”
According to the latest report on press freedom rankings from Reporters Without Borders released last month, China has further dropped in the rankings in 2025, now standing at 178th place, down 6 positions from 2024. China ranks third from the bottom globally, with the last two positions held by North Korea and Eritrea.