security guards and men in plain clothes blocked Australian journalists from leaving a tourist attraction in Beijing
July 15: reporters from Australia travelled with an Australian embassy escort and written permission to film piece to camera elements for stories on Anthony Albanese's meeting with 
Xi Jinping in Beijing.
While SBS, ABC, Sky News, Channel Nine, and Channel 7 crews were filming their content near the Bell and Drum Towers — iconic historical structures and popular tourist attractions in the city, local authorities approached with questions about whether they had the correct permissions.
About eight security guards and men in plain clothes — state security agents? — surrounded the group, stating they had to stay until police arrived and that they would need to hand over the footage they had collected.
A diplomat from Australia's embassy managed to speak to the local authorities, but they continued to follow and encircle the group as it moved towards the bus.
The Australian journalists were surrounded and told they were not allowed to leave, before the Chinese security personnel began taking photos of the visiting press and demanding to take their camera equipment.
The delegation was later allowed to board a bus and leave after the security personnel stepped aside following further interventions from diplomats.
sbs.com.au/news/article/c
youtu.be/_AqwPczESEg?si0:25