According to a separate report by The New York Times, Vietnamese authorities have withheld the journalist’s passport since August, subjecting them to repeated and lengthy interrogations. The paper noted that the case “highlights the risks faced by Vietnamese nationals who work for international news outlets” in a country consistently ranked among the world’s most restrictive for press freedom. The journalist’s name was withheld for security reasons, including possible arrest in Vietnam in retribution for publicly exposing the case.
The BBC statement came just one day after Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam arrived in London for an official visit promoted by Vietnamese state media as a diplomatic milestone aimed at “enhancing cooperation and boosting Vietnam’s global reputation.”
