Three journalists from Japan’s Kyodo News were beaten on the night of September 18, 2009 by Chinese authorities who forced their way into their hotel room. The reporters’ laptops were destroyed in the process. Following the beating of three Hong Kong journalists in Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, this was another incident of Chinese police beating foreign journalists.

The Kyodo News report stated that the Japanese journalists were in their hotel room near Changan Street in Beijing, reporting on the rehearsal by troops for the upcoming National Day. However, a group of people claiming to represent the Chinese government broke into the room and condemned them for reporting on the rehearsals. These people even kicked the journalists, beat them around the head, forced them to kneel and threw their two laptops into the hallway.

The three journalists included one writer and two photo journalists,  however, it did not reveal their nationalities or the department they belonged to at Kyodo News.

Kyodo News said that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a notice to the media, banning the recording of the September 6 National Day rehearsal. However, similar notices have not been received since. After the incident on the night of September 18, Kyodo News filed a complaint with the China State Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for an explanation of this beating.

The 60th anniversary of the Chinese Communist rule is fast approaching on October 1, 2009. The authorities have significantly increased the security level in Beijing. Tanks, military vehicles carrying missiles and other vehicle equipment have entered Changan Street and the avenues surrounding the Tiananmen Square. All of the shop and schools near the rehearsal location have been closed and traffic diverted.