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Beijing

Journalist barred for defending terrorism

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday that China will ensure the ability of foreign journalists to cover China, but the Chinese government and people will not tolerate any defense of terrorism in the name of press freedom. Gauthier, a Beijing-based correspondent for French magazine L'Obs, was denied renewal of her press credential after suggesting in her reporting that government policy was to blame for attacks by extremists in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. "We have noticed the reaction of the French public," Lu said, citing a report saying that more than half of French netizens surveyed voiced understanding and support for China's decision.