I suspect maybe also they might consider him a ‘journalist’. Maybe he published something else somewhere that denied entry?

Oh wow, just watched it. Incredible. He failed to register, now China is enforcing the rule, and he is complaining he got caught.

There are no grounds for him to blame Air China - they don't have access to know he didn't register last year.

he seems to indicate maybe the hotel he stayed at didn't register him - but I can't understand that. The hotels won't let you check in until that's been done.