First Russia played Obama like a fiddle, now it’s China. According to CNN/Fortune, Chinese authorities conducted unannounced “inspections” at Bloomberg News bureaus in Beijing and Shanghai last month. Neither Obama nor Biden seem concerned about this though. Obama is now Putin and China’s bitch.
In what appears to be a conspicuous show of displeasure, Chinese authorities conducted unannounced “inspections” at Bloomberg News bureaus in Beijing and Shanghai in the final days of November, Fortune has learned. The visits followed media reports that Bloomberg cancelled a year-long investigation on financial ties between a Chinese billionaire and government officials.
Bloomberg has been described in press accounts as canceling the article to avoid antagonizing the Chinese government. According to those accounts—which are disputed by the company— Bloomberg News editor-in-chief Matt Winkler explained his decision to kill the story by comparing it to self-censorship in Nazi-era Germany, saying it would allow Bloomberg to avoid being expelled from China.
Instead of soothing the government, Winkler’s reported comment appears to have stirred anger. During the visits, Fortune is told, at least one Chinese official asked the company for an apology from Winkler.