Photo: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying answered questions from the media at a regular press conference on Jan. 30.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying Hua showed her wit again at the Tuesday press conference when responding to the false report of an association of foreign journalists in Beijing.

Rather than give a direct response, she threw questions back after a foreign journalist asked for Hua’s comment on the accusations in the annual report issued by The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC), which claimed not-so-favorable working conditions for foreign journalists in China, including denied and restricted access and pressure from the visa renewal process.

Before Hua called the accusations “unreasonable,” she first asked the foreign journalists in the room if they are members of the so-called organization and whether or not they approved of the report’s content.

She then asked them how they feel about the working conditions in China, and whether they know that the Ministry’s Information Department provided all the necessary convenience and assistance for them.

During Hua’s reply, no foreign journalist at the press conference raised his or her hand in approval of the FCCC’s report; in fact, all the media remained silent.

In December, the FCCC surveyed correspondent members about their experiences during the calendar year of 2017 and reported that journalism in China has grown more difficult. The FCCC keeps the routine of issuing an annual report of working conditions for foreign reporters, while most of the reports criticize China for obstructing reporters’ coverage.

FCCC members in no way reflect the genuine opinion of the almost 600 foreign journalists in China, said Hua, adding that China will continue to assist and facilitate the work of foreign journalists as always.