Chinese broadcaster in Germany suspended for pro-China comments: state media

A Chinese woman working for Germany's Deutsche Welle-Radio has been suspended following several pro-China comments, state media reported today.

According to China Daily, four days before the Olympics, Zhang Danhong, 42, editor for DW-Radio's Chinese program reportedly said that “The Communist Party of China has more than any political force in the world implemented Article 3 of the Declaration of Human Rights.” China Daily said it referred to Chinese authorities pulling more than 400 million people out of poverty.

Zhang has also apparently said in a talkshow in late July that the Chinese government had done a lot to protect local culture in Tibet. She also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for cooling relations with Beijing.

German media has reportedly been critical of Zhang's remarks. On Aug 11, Focus magazine said that Zhang was “courting” China's leadership while on August 20, the newspaper Berliner Zeitung quoted parliamentary representative Dieter Wiefelsputz as saying that Zhang's performance was a “catastrophe.”

The newspaper confirmed Zhang's suspension two days later.

Zhang was born in Beijing and learned German in Peking University and in Cologne, Germany. She became an editor of DW-Radio's Chinese program in 2004 and was promoted deputy editorial director of the program in 2004, the company website said.

Her suspension has sparked debate in China, with many voicing sympathy and concern for her, China Daily said.

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that they were aware of the case. "We hold that the media should report under an objective and just principle," Qin Gang said.

Neither Zhang nor DW-Radio were available for comment.