The ABC will again base a correspondent in China with Allyson Horn to take up the posting in Beijing in coming weeks.
China has a huge importance on the global stage, and ABC representation in a Beijing bureau is vital.
The ABC has a long and storied history in China, dating back more than 50 years.
It started when the first bureau was opened back in 1973, at a time when only a handful of foreign journalists were allowed in the country. It was set up by Paul Raffaele - the first Australian journalist to be based in Mao's China - just weeks before Gough Whitlam's historic first trip as prime minister. Our correspondents have kept the public informed through major world events ever since.
The ABC has been eager to return a correspondent to China, and today's announcement represents a significant milestone.
Allyson Horn's first foreign posting was in 2022 as the ABC's Middle East Correspondent, based in Jerusalem.
ABC Director, News Justin Stevens: "We are thrilled to have a correspondent return to China. Allyson Horn is a formidable journalist. She delivered remarkable coverage on the incredibly complex and challenging events in the Middle East. Her reporting is brave and authoritative and she's always committed to giving a voice to ordinary people.
"Bringing the best coverage of China and its people to our audiences is incredibly important and having an Australian journalist reporting this story on the ground for us will significantly bolster our reporting.
"International reporting is a cornerstone of the service we provide to Australians. With correspondents in China, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, India, PNG, the US, the UK and the Middle East, and reporters throughout the Asia-Pacific, our world coverage is by far the most comprehensive of any Australian media organisation."
ABC Head International & Indigenous, Suzanne Dredge: "For more than 50 years ABC journalists have reported on the ground in China, keeping the Australian public informed about stories of global significance with a focus on the people, economy and China's position on the international stage. Allyson is an exceptional foreign correspondent, and her appointment reinforces our commitment to strengthening our coverage across the entire Asia-Pacific region. We are delighted she will start this next chapter in the ABC's long legacy of reporting from Beijing."
