• Chinese journalist Liu Hu detained after a report criticizing local officials' corruption.
• Detention raises concerns about media repression in China.
• Liu Hu's previous arrest for defamation adds to his contentious history with authorities.
• Calls for international pressure on China regarding journalist freedoms.
• Chinese government remains silent amid criticism from rights activists.

A veteran Chinese investigative journalist has been detained by police in Sichuan province after publishing a report that scrutinized local officials, raising fresh concerns about the abuse of power. Liu Hu, 50, and his assistant Wu Lingjiao, 34, were taken into custody following an article that alleged local Communist Party secretary Pu Fayou had abused his authority to suppress private enterprises. The report also involved sensitive claims regarding the forced demolition of properties, which contributed to the tragic suicide of a local professor in 2021, according to SCMP, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

On February 2, police issued a notice indicating that the two journalists had been subjected to "criminal coercive measures" for allegedly making "false accusations" and engaging in "illegal business operations". This incident has sparked alarm among rights groups and activists, who have expressed deep concerns about ongoing media repression in the country. Critics highlight the significant risks faced by journalists uncovering abuses of power in China, where more than 120 journalists are currently detained, as noted by Reporters Without Borders, which labels China as "the world's biggest jailer of journalists" according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

Liu Hu has faced governmental scrutiny before; he was previously arrested in 2013 for defamation after publishing exposes on high-ranking officials. His well-documented history includes a prolonged struggle against censorship, culminating in his release in 2014 without charges. This latest detention illustrates a continued trend of targeting journalists who challenge state power, echoing Liu's earlier warnings from authorities urging him to refrain from public reporting, as detailed by BBC and SCMP.

Human rights advocates are calling for international pressure on China to rectify its ongoing repression of independent journalism. They contend that Liu's detention is indicative of a hostile environment for reporters in the country and underscores a critical need for global awareness and intervention. This situation has prompted urgent calls from groups like Reporters Without Borders for stronger international actions against the Chinese regime regarding the safety and freedom of journalists, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.