Australia: Women Press Freedom Blasts Chinese Diplomatic Interference in Cheng Lei's Reporting on Premier's Australian Visit
Lei was recently freed after being detained for over 3 years in China on espionage charges
Location: Australia, Canberra
Date: June 17, 2024
Women Press Freedom strongly denounces the actions of Chinese diplomats who attempted to obstruct Cheng Lei, a prominent Chinese-Australian journalist, during her coverage of Premier Li Qiang’s visit to the Australian Parliament. Cheng Lei, recently freed after being detained for over three years in China on espionage charges, faced interference from Chinese officials during a press briefing in Canberra. We unequivocally denounce the persistent persecution of Lei by Chinese authorities and call for an immediate halt to the intimidation and harassment tactics employed against her and all journalists who report critically on China.
Chinese officials obstructed Sky News Australia reporter Cheng Lei, recently freed from imprisonment, preventing her from being seen by cameras during an event featuring Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
“They went to great lengths to block me from the cameras and to flank me,” says Cheng Lei. “And I’m guessing that’s to prevent me from saying something or doing something that they think would be a bad look.”
Cheng Lei, a presenter and reporter for Sky News Australia, attended the event with other Australian journalists in the main committee room of Parliament House. Video evidence reveals that as agreements were being signed, two Chinese embassy officials positioned themselves directly in front of Cheng, seemingly to block her from the cameras.
Australian officials repeatedly asked the Chinese embassy officials to step aside to allow journalists an unobstructed view, but their requests were ignored. Eventually, a fellow Australian journalist offered to swap seats with Cheng, allowing her to move two seats to the right. When one of the embassy officials tried to approach her again, Australian officials intervened and blocked his path.
The Australian government has issued a formal complaint to the Chinese embassy, criticizing their clumsy attempts to obstruct Cheng Lei’s view during the event inside Parliament House.
Women Press Freedom has documented the high-profile diplomatic case of Australian journalist and former TV anchor Cheng Lei, who was detained in China for over two and a half years on national security charges. Lei's trial was held behind closed doors in Beijing on March 31, 2022. Chinese authorities detained Lei on August 14, 2020, and placed her under "residential surveillance" on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. Under this ruling, China keeps detainees in secret custody for up to six months without charge, denying detainees the right to be visited by family members or lawyers.
Lei, who was jailed for the minor infraction of breaking an embargo by just a few minutes, was freed in October 2023.
We stand in steadfast solidarity with Cheng Lei and vehemently condemn the recent interference by Chinese diplomats in her coverage of Premier Li Qiang’s visit to the Australian parliament. This incident highlights the persistent obstacles faced by journalists in complex diplomatic environments and underscores the urgent need to safeguard press freedom. We demand a prompt explanation from Chinese officials regarding this obstruction and insist that the Chinese government cease its practices of intimidating and harassing journalists like Cheng Lei.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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