Wall Street Journal blames Beijing troublemaking for US bribery probe

News Corp newspaper carries its own report on federal
investigation into claim that bureau paid for information

Matt Williams in New York
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 17 March 2013 23.24 GMT

US authorities have investigated the Wall Street Journal over allegations that its bureau in China had bribed government officials with lavish gifts in return for information it could use in articles, the paper reported on Sunday.

An article carried on the newspaper's website said the accusations were presented to the Journal by the Justice Department as part of a wider inquiry into its parent company, News Corporation, under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). That inquiry stemmed from the allegations of phone hacking and other illegal activities at the British newspapers owned by News Corp.

The paper reported that US authorities have almost completed their investigations under the FCPA, and were preparing to open talks over a settlement with News Corp over any charges that may result.

Meanwhile, the owners of the Wall Street Journal appear to believe that the allegations of bribery in China were the result of trouble-making by Beijing in retaliation for unfavourable reporting. In a statement to the Guardian, a representative of Dow Jones – which publishes the Journal – expressed regret that an "unknown source" had sought to "taint" the newspaper's journalism.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]