SOPA Lifetime Achievement Award 2024

Benjamin Kang Lim 林洸耀
Video Tribute

Benjamin Kang Lim, a Philippine-born veteran journalist, was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his groundbreaking reporting on China.

Over his 40-year career, he broke some of the most significant stories out of Greater China, including the death of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in 1997 and the unexpected rise of President Xi Jinping in 2007.

Born in Manila in 1959 to immigrant parents from China’s southern Fujian province, Ben developed a passion for Chinese martial arts films and decided to study Chinese in Taipei at the age of 19. He went on to work for Taiwan English-language paper The China Post and news agency Agence France-Presse before joining Reuters in 1991.

During his 27 years at Reuters, Ben held various esteemed positions, including Bureau Chief in Taipei and Beijing, as well as Chief Correspondent for North Asia. He was twice awarded both “Scoop of the Year” and “Reporter of the Year.”

Known for his exceptional ability to cultivate sources, Ben broke many significant stories throughout his career. His 1997 scoop on the death of Deng Xiaoping, ahead of China’s state news agency, was groundbreaking and solidified his reputation as one of China’s most respected journalists.

In 2005, he broke the news of the death of Zhao Ziyang, the former Communist Party chief who had been purged after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown and placed under house arrest until his death.

Ben’s meticulous and insightful reporting on Xi’s early career and ascent to power provided a unique glimpse into the inner workings of China’s political elite. In 2007, he accurately predicted the entire nine-man lineup of the new 17th Politburo Standing Committee, a feat coveted by any reporter in China.

Having won 13 journalism awards, including four SOPA awards, Ben interviewed numerous Asian leaders, such as Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as Taiwan Presidents Chen Shui-bian, Ma Ying-jeou, and Tsai Ing-wen, and Philippine Presidents Fidel Ramos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III.

After leaving Reuters in 2018, Ben remained in Beijing as the Global Affairs Correspondent for Singapore’s The Straits Times.

In 2016, he authored a book in Chinese titled “Taking China’s Pulse,” accurately predicting that Xi Jinping would remain in power for at least three terms, breaking a long-held party convention.

Ben passed away on May 21 in Beijing at the age of 65 due to pancreatitis. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

亚洲出版业协会郑重宣布，将2024年“终身成就奖”授予菲律宾华裔记者林洸耀先生。

在其近40年的记者生涯中，林洸耀就大中华区的政治、社会、经济话题发表大量独家深度报道，尤其以对中国政治的长期深刻洞察而赢得业界普遍敬佩。

林洸耀于1959年生于菲律宾首都马尼拉，父母是中国福建移民。他在19岁时移居台北学习中文，此后曾在《中国邮报》和法新社工作，1991年加入路透社，直至2018年于北京退休。

在服务路透社的27年中，林洸耀曾担任台北分社社长、北京分社社长、北亚区首席记者等重要职务，并各两次获得“路透年度记者奖”、“路透年度独家新闻奖”等奖项。1997年，他早于中国国家通讯社、独家报道邓小平逝世的新闻，奠定了中国政治新闻“独家机器”的声誉。他还曾独家报道赵紫阳去世的新闻，以及数次准确判断中共中央政治局常委人选。在2016年出版的《把脉中国》中文书中，他精准预言中国现任领导人习近平将打破两届任期的惯例。

林洸耀曾获得13项新闻奖项，包括四项亚洲出版业协会卓越新闻奖。他曾专访多位大中华区政治领袖，包括胡锦涛、温家宝、陈水扁、马英九、蔡英文，以及菲律宾前总统拉莫斯、阿罗约、阿基诺三世等等。

林洸耀先生在业界的崇高声望，不仅来自他在政治新闻领域的突出成就。中文武侠小说中那些文武双全、德才兼备的“大侠”形象，在少年时期激发了他对中文和中国文化的兴趣，更成为他的毕生信条。他为人宽厚热诚，乐于助人，在亚洲各国广交朋友。从国家元首、宗教领袖到青年学子、贩夫走卒，他无不以诚相待。尤其是对大中华区的青年记者，一向扶植有加。

林洸耀先生于2024年5月21日在北京不幸因病逝世，终年65岁。