Prominent Australian journalist Cheng Lei was arrested in China, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
Cheng Lei has been in detention for more than two weeks, the Australian government has done so overnight.
“The Australian government had its first consular stopover with Cheng at a video link detention center on (Thursday) and will continue to provide assistance to her and her family,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
No explanation has been given for his arrest.
An Australian citizen and #periodista @ChengLeiCGTN has been detained in #Chine for two weeks, MarisePayne confirms.Link to your @CGTN page now 404. . . . . . . . . . . . #auspol pic.twitter.com/6t4hNFA6wY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“He received an official notification on August 14, 2020 from the Chinese government of his arrest.”
China-based Australian journalist Stephen McDonnell, who works for the BBC, tweeted that Cheng is being held in a secret location without charge.
The CGTN online page that described Cheng as a host for the network’s Global Business program is no longer available after news of his arrest.
The CBA said Cheng is detained under “residential surveillance in a designated location,” a form of detention that allows investigators to arrest and interrogate a suspect for up to six months without being arrested.
Cheng Lei has been detained in China at DFAT.
In a video for Australian Global Alumni released two years ago, Cheng described herself as “a presenter of the global industry exhibition at CGTN, China’s Global Television Network.”
Born in China, she studied at the University of Queensland before applying for Cadbury Schweppes and ExxonMobil in Australia.
“The appeal of an Australian school is not in what is taught, but in what is not taught.It does not teach you to stick to orders, it gives you the freedom to think for yourself, to consult Array …judge for yourself, ” he said.
After moving to China, Cheng worked for the Chinese state broadcaster, the country’s largest television network.
“China is one of the topics that can be talked up or down on various levels, depending on the wisdom and delight of the person.”
???????????????? Alarm! Journalist #Australia Cheng Lei, Chinese state media television presenter @CGTNOfficial, has been detained by Chinese police for more than two weeks and has not yet been “officially arrested.”RSF_inter expresses his deep fear for this new attempt to put ALL journalists on his foot!
The CBA reported that Cheng’s two young men are in Melbourne.
His circle of relatives made a brief statement.
“In China, due process will be followed and we look towards an acceptable and timely conclusion of the matter,” they told ABC.
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Cheng’s arrest continues the arrest of Australian and educator Yang Hengjun.
Senator Payne has in the past called for the early release of Dr. Yang, who faces the death penalty if convicted of espionage.
The Chinese diplomat became a pro-democracy activist and was appointed Australian citizen in 2002.
He was detained in January 2019 and has been held since with limited consular contact.
With SPG.