China Blocks BBC Website As Hong Kong Clashes Escalate

As clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police in Hong Kong intensify this week, the Chinese government has reportedly blocked the website of the BBC -- a move the British news outlet has called “deliberate censorship.”

According to Reuters, BBC’s English-language website was blocked by Chinese Communist Party censors Wednesday, and as of Thursday morning, remains inaccessible.

“The BBC strongly condemns any attempts to restrict free access to news and information and we are protesting to the Chinese authorities,” said Peter Horrocks, the director of the BBC World Service Group, in a statement. “This appears to be deliberate censorship.”

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When asked, however, whether or not BBC’s website had been blocked, Hong Lei, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, told Reuters the country enjoyed “full Internet freedom.”

"At the same time, the Chinese government manages the Internet in accordance with the law," he added.

Earlier this week, a Chinese official suggested that some members of the foreign media had not been reporting about the protests in Hong Kong “objectively” and called for all media to do so.

“We hope the outside world will respect … the Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region] government to deal with the situation in accordance with the law and does not send any wrong signal to this unlawful activity," said the official, per Reuters.

On Wednesday, the BBC reported that an investigation had been launched in Hong Kong into allegations that police were using excessive force against pro-democracy protesters. The news outlet said that a protester had been captured on camera being beaten and kicked by a group of officers. The BBC also noted that police had been using pepper spray and batons against protesters.

This isn't the first time that censors in China have cracked down on BBC's English-language website. The news outlet says that in 2012, the site was "disrupted" around the time of Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng's escape from house arrest. The website was also blocked in 2010, in the days before and after the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Policemen walk away from a scene where anti demonstrators confronted pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Policemen walk away from a scene where anti demonstrators confronted pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman looks on as she stands by a placard in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman looks on as she stands by a placard in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
An anti-protester (C) argues with a student (R), part of a group protecting a barricade in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
An anti-protester (C) argues with a student (R), part of a group protecting a barricade in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators clean an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators clean an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators look on as they protect a barricade from anti-protesters in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators look on as they protect a barricade from anti-protesters in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A group of men shout at pro-democracy protesters after fighting running battles as a policeman looks on in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
A group of men shout at pro-democracy protesters after fighting running battles as a policeman looks on in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
A pro-democracy activist screams at local residents and pro-government supporters as they protect their protest site on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.  (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
A pro-democracy activist screams at local residents and pro-government supporters as they protect their protest site on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Local residents and pro-government supporters scream at pro-democracy protesters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Local residents and pro-government supporters scream at pro-democracy protesters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy activists are pushed through the crowd to safety after clashing with local residents and pro-government supporters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy activists are pushed through the crowd to safety after clashing with local residents and pro-government supporters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy protesters try to stop a barricade at their demonstration area from being removed in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy protesters try to stop a barricade at their demonstration area from being removed in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy activists join together to protect their protest tent from local residents and pro-government supporters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.   (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy activists join together to protect their protest tent from local residents and pro-government supporters on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Police shield a pro-democracy activist who was beaten by local residents and pro-government supporters while trying to leave the protest site on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Police shield a pro-democracy activist who was beaten by local residents and pro-government supporters while trying to leave the protest site on October 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Pedestrians walk through the encampment of pro-democracy student protesters outside the government complex in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
Pedestrians walk through the encampment of pro-democracy student protesters outside the government complex in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
A police guards over a pro-democracy student protester who collapsed during scuffles with locals trying to remove the barricades blocking local streets in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
A police guards over a pro-democracy student protester who collapsed during scuffles with locals trying to remove the barricades blocking local streets in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
A pro-democracy student protester tries to negotiate with angry locals trying to remove the barricades blocking streets in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
A pro-democracy student protester tries to negotiate with angry locals trying to remove the barricades blocking streets in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
A student protester is injured after being pulled off and hit by residents and pro-Beijing supporters while local police are escorting him out of the protest area in Kowloon's crowded Mong Kok district, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A student protester is injured after being pulled off and hit by residents and pro-Beijing supporters while local police are escorting him out of the protest area in Kowloon's crowded Mong Kok district, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A pro-government supporter tries to grab on to a student pro-democracy activist as policeman were escorting him out of the tent, in Kowloon's crowded Mong Kok district, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong.  (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A pro-government supporter tries to grab on to a student pro-democracy activist as policeman were escorting him out of the tent, in Kowloon's crowded Mong Kok district, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Protesters sleep in a main road as they block the road at the financial district in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Protesters sleep in a main road as they block the road at the financial district in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A pro-democracy protester is taken away by police officers as an ambulance tries to leave the compound of the chief executive office in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A pro-democracy protester is taken away by police officers as an ambulance tries to leave the compound of the chief executive office in Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A student pro-democracy protester covers his face in plastic wrap to guard against pepper spray in a standoff with police, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A student pro-democracy protester covers his face in plastic wrap to guard against pepper spray in a standoff with police, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Wrapped in plastic to shield from pepper spray, a student protester stands behind a makeshift barrier blocking main streets in the central business district of Hong Kong, late Monday, Sept. 29, 2014.  (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Wrapped in plastic to shield from pepper spray, a student protester stands behind a makeshift barrier blocking main streets in the central business district of Hong Kong, late Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Pro-democracy protesters gather in the early hours of the morning, while others spent the night on the streets around the government headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.  (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Pro-democracy protesters gather in the early hours of the morning, while others spent the night on the streets around the government headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road, many under the shade of umbrellas, near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong.  (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road, many under the shade of umbrellas, near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A man is framed by a barricade made of metal gates and umbrellas in the central financial district, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A man is framed by a barricade made of metal gates and umbrellas in the central financial district, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A student protester rests next to a defaced cut-out of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at one of their protest sites around the government headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong.  (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A student protester rests next to a defaced cut-out of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at one of their protest sites around the government headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep in the shade of umbrellas, on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Student activists sleep in the shade of umbrellas, on a road near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered and made camp, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas under heavy rain in a main street near the government headquarters in Hong Kong late Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014.  (AP Photo)
Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas under heavy rain in a main street near the government headquarters in Hong Kong late Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. (AP Photo)
A woman holds a placard at a large pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong on October 1, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman holds a placard at a large pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong on October 1, 2014. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators gather for the third night in Hong Kong on September 30, 2014.(PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Pro-democracy demonstrators gather for the third night in Hong Kong on September 30, 2014.(PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
People gather during demonstrations in Hong Kong on September 30, 2014. (XAUME OLLEROS/AFP/Getty Images)
People gather during demonstrations in Hong Kong on September 30, 2014. (XAUME OLLEROS/AFP/Getty Images)
Student protesters chant pro democracy slogans on the streets on September 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Student protesters chant pro democracy slogans on the streets on September 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw

HONG KONG - SEPTEMBER 30: Student protesters shine lights as they chant pro-democracy slogans on the streets on September 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Thousands of pro democracy supporters continue to occupy the streets surrounding Hong Kong's Financial district. Protest leaders have set an October 1st deadline for their demands to be met and are calling for open elections and the resignation of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Protesters relax on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Protesters relax on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

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