An international media rights group has accused a French company of selling equipment to China used by the government to jam foreign radio broadcasts.
In a statement Saturday, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said the French electronics group Thales has provided the Chinese government with equipment used to scramble foreign radio signals. The group said Chinese authorities use the equipment to jam stations such as Norway-based Voice of Tibet, BBC World Service, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.
The organization urged the French government to warn companies to the dangers of selling certain equipment to China.
Reporters Without Borders issued its statement during a visit to China by French President Jacques Chirac. The French leader began his four-day visit Friday.