PARLIAMENT HILL—The Parliamentary Press Gallery is wrestling with the thorny issue of what to do with a Chinese state news outlet accused of espionage.
Chatter in the “Hotroom” on Parliament Hill, where some journalists have their desks, has it that some news outlets are concerned the Chinese state could retaliate against any media company involved in a decision to revoke Xinhua’s Parliament Hill Press credentials.
Statements made by gallery executives suggest the issue is being viewed as a personal dispute between a former Xinhua staffer and the news agency’s management. The board has been attempting to examine the issue but has faced difficulty getting Xinhua representatives to appear before it to answer questions.
The issue erupted in August when former Xinhua staffer Mark Bourrie came forward with allegations his Xinhua handlers had tasked him with collecting intelligence for Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials rather than for the publication of any news story.
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