Abstract

The imprisonment of journalists accused of revealing state secrets has in the past two years become a newsworthy story both in China and abroad. In order to understand this whole business, one has to understand the nature of "secrets" in China and what it means to be accused of leaking them. One must also ask whether it is really possible for journalists in China to have access to secrets and to reveal any secrets. And if they do, then what is the exact nature of their crime?