China did not do any delay for more than a week to take counter-action. Last week, the U.K. revoked the license of Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN), a Chinese state-controlled television channel. Within a week, China banned BBC World News from broadcasting in their country, the BBC reports.

Chinese news agency Sinhua reported that the country’s national radio and television ministry said BBC World News violated China’s broadcasting policy. The ministry feels that the BBC’s china news report is not true and impartial. 

After China’s move, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab tweeted, “China’s decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. China has some of the most severe restrictions on media & internet freedoms across the globe, & this latest step will only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world.”

The United States also condemned China’s decision. The country’s foreign ministry said such move was part of the suppression of media freedom in China.

Two years ago CGTN opened its office in London to broadcast their news in Europe. But last week, the U.K. Broadcasting Ministry said the Communist Party of China was turning the wand on the Editorial Policy of the CGTN. It is against British law. They were then stripped of their broadcasting rights in the UK.

China’s decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. China has some of the most severe restrictions on media & internet freedoms across the globe, & this latest step will only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world.

— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 11, 2021

It was then understood that China’s counter-action was only a matter of time. That’s exactly what China did within a week. China argues the BBC’s report of the rape and torture of Uighur women in Xinjiang is false. The BBC, however, strongly opposed China’s statement.

“We are disappointed that China has taken such a decision, the BBC said in a statement. The BBC is the world’s most trusted international media. The BBC collects news without fear or bias, fair and impartial, from all over the world.”

According to the BBC report, the BBC was broadcast only in international hotels and some diplomatic areas in China. Which means that the common people of China could not see the BBC.