BBC World Service radio ‘jammed in China’

LONDON—The BBC said Monday that its World Service shortwave radio broadcasts in English are being jammed in China in a deliberate move by the authorities there to cause “maximum disruption.”

“The BBC strongly condemns this action which is designed to disrupt audiences’ free access to news and information,” the world’s largest broadcaster said in a statement.

The corporation added that while it was not possible to determine the source of the blocking, “extensive and coordinated efforts are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China.”

The BBC said its satellite services had been jammed on several occasions over the last couple of years. Shortwave jamming is less common but has previously hit the broadcaster’s Persian broadcasts in Iran.

“The jamming of shortwave transmissions is being timed to cause maximum disruption to BBC World Service English broadcasts in China,” said Peter Horrocks, director of BBC Global News.

“The deliberate and co-ordinated efforts by authorities in countries such as China and Iran illustrate the significance and importance of the role the BBC undertakes to provide impartial and accurate information to audiences around the world.”