CNN, BBC and AFP reporters accosted by umbrella-wielding “undercover” police at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square [UPDATED]

Earlier today, CNN anchor and Beijing correspondent John Vause was filming in Tiananmen Square, Beijing when he suddenly encountered a man holding an umbrella who won’t step away from his cameraman’s lens. Maybe it’s the matching umbrella and pants, but this goes down in our book as the silliest censorship effort ever.

UPDATE: Video footage of the “umbrella incident” here:

Also, from CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz on Twitter:

Just drove around T Square: it’s swarming with hordes of uniformed and plainclothes cops, some carrying similar umbrellas.

UPDATE 2: It just gets ridiculouser and ridiculouser! Now BBC’s Beijing correspondent James Reynolds has also met with the same treatment. Whoever thought of this umbrella idea has just made China look oh so good in front of the world’s media.

UPDATE 3: Well it looks like AFP got the special umbrella treatment too. Embedding has been disabled, so click here for the video.