Dharamshala, 1st April: Beijing court is holding a closed-door trial for Australian journalist and former TV anchor Cheng Lei. Ms. Cheng, as per reports, is accused of smuggling national secrets out of the country. Her family maintains that she is not guilty. Prior to her detention in August 2020, the Chinese-born Australian worked for the Chinese state-run media outlet CGTN. The particular nature of Ms. Cheng’s alleged offenses is unknown, and it is unclear when a verdict will be issued.
Graham Fletcher, Australia’s ambassador to China, said he and other Australian officials were denied entrance to the hearing. Outsiders are frequently barred from politically sensitive trials in China. Mr. Fletcher said Ms. Cheng, who had previously been believed to have been ill while in jail, was now “doing okay” given the circumstances.
According to BBC, Ms. Cheng had spent several years working in Beijing prior to her arrest. Many of her relatives live in Australia, including her two small children. She abruptly vanished from television in August 2020, and friends and relatives were unable to contact her. Her employer, CGTN, the state broadcaster’s English-language channel, likewise removed Ms. Cheng’s personal page and work from its websites.
China first stated that she was being held for national security reasons, and Ms. Cheng was formally arrested on spying accusations in February of last year. Her family has stated that they are unaware of why she was detained. According to the bilateral consular arrangement with China, Australia’s representatives were authorized to visit her once a month.
In recent years, relations between Australia and China have worsened, resulting in diplomatic and trade tensions. According to analysts, this has made it more difficult for Australian officials to engage with Beijing for the release of its individuals. In recent months, Beijing has detained or expelled a number of journalists. Following consular advice, the last two Australian media correspondents in China fled the country shortly after Ms. Cheng’s arrest. Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-born Australian citizen, has also been detained in China for three years. He disputes the espionage claims and is now claimed to be unwell.
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