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Chinese Ambassador responds to detained journalist Cheng Lei’s case

Catie McLeodNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

Beijing’s top envoy to Canberra says people who are concerned about detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei need to “respect” Chinese laws.

Ms Cheng is a former TV anchor who has been detained in a Beijing jail for nearly two years after allegedly breaking China’s national security laws.

The mother-of-two’s trial has been held behind closed doors and the full details of her alleged offences have been kept opaque.

Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian fronted the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday where he faced questions from Australian reporters about Ms Cheng’s case.

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“There are a couple of Australian citizens in China that are under custody according to Chinese rules and laws, and their basic rights are well protected, don’t worry about that,” Mr Xiao said.

Yang Hengjun, an Australian-Chinese writer and pro-democracy advocate, is also detained in China, where he was arrested more than three years ago.

Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been detained in Beijing for more than two years. Supplied
Camera IconChinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been detained in Beijing for more than two years. Supplied Credit: Supplied

Supporters of Dr Yang and Ms Cheng have repeatedly raised concerns over their treatment, saying their health is deteriorating in detention and they have struggled to access diplomatic assistance.

Mr Xiao on Wednesday claimed the Covid-19 pandemic had made it difficult for these Australians to have contact with their relatives or diplomatic officials.

“Now it’s easy to get access to their relatives either in Australia or the Australian embassy in China,” he said.

“The cases are still under jurisdiction process and we want to sort it out according to Chinese rule and the laws.”

NCA CHINESE AMBASSADOR XIAO QIAN
Camera IconChinese Ambassador Xiao Qian was asked about Ms Cheng at the National Press Club on Wednesday. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

Mr Xiao was asked he how could say Ms Cheng’s rights were being protected, given she had been tried in secret and her family had made serious allegations about her mistreatment in jail.

“Well, thanks for the question. I understand that any citizen from Australia who’s detained overseas should be a sensitive issue …” Mr Xiao said.

“The person you’re talking about is in the jurisdiction process and in addition to what I said earlier, I want to emphasise that this case involves national security.”

Asked if he was saying there was no immediate appetite to release Ms Cheng, Mr Xiao said her case was “still in the process”.

“I think we all have to respect the laws and regulations of China,” he said.

Mr Xiao made similar comments in June and said Ms Cheng’s and Dr Yang’s “individual cases” shouldn’t affect the overall Australia-China relationship.

“It’s basically a legal issue matter; I think it would be very helpful for the normal legal jurisdictional process for China be respected, be followed,” Mr Xiao told the Australian Financial Review at the time.

Originally published as Chinese Ambassador responds to detained journalist Cheng Lei’s case

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