Economic Evening News
September 1, 2008

Today quite a few newspapers reported that economist Wu Jinglian denied allegations that he was a spy in an interview with the media including The Beijing News and China News agency.

Wu's employer, the government-funded think tank Development Research Center of the State Council, also confirmed that Wu was not arrested for being a spy.

During the last few days, online rumors had it that Wu Jinglian was suspected of being an "American spy" and was "taken away from his home for investigation by National Security personnel".

Danwei reported the rumor last week, noting that the story was found in various Chinese forums and portals, including the overseas Chinese forum Boxun which is often unreliable. The online story didn't provide any substantial detail except that "Wu was taken away from his home for investigation by National Security personnel".

It was rather easy to refute the rumor: At the very same time that Mr Wu was alleged to be in detention, Caijing magazine was interviewing him in Tianjin for an article and video titled Wu Jinglian: Persisting with reform is the only way (Chinese).

Most of today's newspapers blamed "a few overseas media" (少数境外媒体) for starting the rumor. People's Daily reported that "Previously, some overseas media had reported Wu was arrested on suspicious spying work, reported the China News Agency on Friday."

On its website, Xinhua published an article analyzing Wu's "spy gate" incident, calling the so-called "overseas media" "clumsy and mean to cook up rumors trying to slander Mr. Wu Jinlian as a spy."