Cheng Lei: Australian journalist arrested on China spying charges
Australian
journalist Cheng Lei, after months of detention in China, has been formally
arrested on charges of supplying state secrets overseas.
Prior to her
detention, the Chinese-born Australian had been a TV presenter for Chinese
state media outlet CGTN.
Chinese
authorities confirmed her arrest on Monday, adding that her legal rights would
be guaranteed.
Ms Cheng was
detained in August and charged last Friday, Australian officials had earlier
said View
more info….
At a press
briefing on Monday, Chinese ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he hoped
Australia would "not interfere with China's handling of this case",
according to news agency Reuters.
Canberra has
repeatedly raised concerns with Beijing over Ms Cheng's detention.
"We
expect basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to
be met, in accordance with international norms," said Australia's foreign
affairs minister, Marise Payne.
"Our
thoughts are with Ms Cheng and her family during this difficult period View
more info….
What do we
know about the case?
Ms Cheng had
worked in Beijing for the last few years. Many of her family, including her two
young children, live in Australia.
In August,
she suddenly disappeared from television and couldn't be contacted by friends
or relatives. Her employer, CGTN - the English-language channel of the state
broadcaster - also wiped its websites of Ms Cheng's profile page and work View
more info….
Cheng Lei:
Who is the Australian TV anchor detained by China?
China
eventually announced she was being held on national security grounds under
"residential surveillance" in an unknown location.
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