American Reporter for French Agency Expelled by China
Communist Chinese authorities today expelled an American correspondent accused of receiving intelligence from a student, hustling him onto a plane without allowing him to pack or say goodby to his American wife, who stayed behind.
Lawrence MacDonald, 32, who had worked in China for two years for the French news agency Agence France-Presse, denied the charges upon arrival in Hong Kong. “I resent being made a pawn in Chinese politics,” he said.
The expulsion came four days after the Chinese government told the news agency to transfer MacDonald, from San Luis Obispo, Calif., and criticized his coverage of pro-democracy student demonstrations in China last month.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.