Immigration authorities told David Missal, 24, his student visa had been cancelled and gave him a week to leave China. A German man has learned the hard way that practising journalism in China, even for a class project, could lead to serious trouble.
Screenshot from his Facebook page
David Missal, 24, was pursuing a master’s degree in journalism and communication at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. He landed in Düsseldorf on Sunday after Chinese immigration authorities told him his student visa had been cancelled and he had a week to leave the country.
© Image | EuroNews.com
Why would the visa be canceled?
Missal said he thought that was because he reported on the plight of jailed human rights lawyers in a journalism class. Missal said a Tsinghua representative this year warned him twice against pursuing the politically sensitive subject, but he went ahead anyway because he wanted to “get to learn Chinese society and politics”.
Missal said his work was never published beyond his personal blog and YouTube, which he thought was seen by fewer than 100 people.
Missal submitted his visa renewal application back in June, a process that usually takes 10 days. After calling officials every week about the status of his application, he was told the delay was due to deliberations between the school and Chinese authorities. He learned of the cancellation last week when he picked up his passport.
© Image | EuroNews.com
“I knew there would be some kind of possibility of this to happen, I didn’t really think it really would happen,” Missal said.
Missal said he’s “sad” about not being able to complete his studies, after spending a total of three years in the country. The Osnabruck native said he will return home and do a masters in Chinese studies at Freie University in Berlin.
Missal said he appreciated the opportunity to experience journalism in China. However, he’s unsure if he will be welcome back to the Middle Kingdom again.
What do the Chinese people think?
A student researching the sensitive issue of radical lawyers sounds inconceivable to Chinese people. But Germans think it is quite normal and blame Chinese laws. This deep-rooted conflict involves differences in how the two societies understand their politics and laws.
© Image | Google
The two sides will probably not reach any agreement. But since Missal was studying in China and his behavior conflicted with China's regulations, which side should have the final say? Obviously, Chinese laws should have the jurisdiction.
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How to avoid this from happening to you?
Always be careful with what you post online, as it may be illegal or insensitive in China. While it's common for such topics to be openly discussed in other countries, China has its own values when it comes to society and culture. It's advised that students and expats living in China to follow the appropriate laws when creating media or other projects.
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Source | SCMP/EuroNews/Facebook/GlobalTimes
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