Attempt by Chinese officials to impede a journalist previously in detention blemishes Australia's goodwill visit
Cheng Lei, a TV host who endured imprisonment in China for over three years prior to her release in 2023, recounted to Sky News Australia that officials went to extensive lengths to obstruct her from the cameras during a press gathering on Monday when Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inked cooperative accords.
Footage suggests two individuals involved in the incident, with one of them, allegedly a Chinese embassy staff member, attempting at one point to approach Cheng, who was seated, despite hindrance by another woman, identified by Sky News as a Australian official, who intervenes to create space.
"I can only speculate that this was an effort to prevent me from expressing myself or performing actions they believed would be detrimental to their image, but that in itself was a poor move," Cheng shared with Sky News, a platform where she has been a news presenter and columnist since late last year.
Cheng further stated that such behavior was typical, as Chinese officials would not wish for "discordant voices or the presence of someone controversial" when they aim to present a "friendly image."
Numerous media outlets, including the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph, which were also present at the press conference, reported the exact details.
CNN is seeking comment from China’s embassy in Canberra.
China robustly controls media and information within its territory, where officers are not subject to the kind of rigorous questioning typical in democratic countries.
Beijing has been repeatedly criticized by Western nations and rights groups for unjust and arbitrary detentions.
Previously a business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN, Cheng was detained by Chinese authorities in August 2020 on ambiguous espionage accusations that surfaced as diplomatic relations between Beijing and Canberra were deteriorating.
The mother of two spent more than three years in custody before being freed by Beijing and rejoining her family in October, weeks before Albanese embarked on the first visit of an Australian leader to China in seven years.
Prior to the news conference on Monday, Cheng expressed that it was an “emotionally charged day” for her to be reporting on the significant visit.
"Clearly, the fact that one moment I'm sitting in captivity and the subject of such discussions at these visits, and then the next moment I'm actually covering the visit... is a testament to the power of freedom and democracy," she said.
Cheng's detention was a point of contention between the two governments, as is the imprisonment of writer and democracy activist Yang Hengjun, an Australian citizen who was handed a suspended death penalty sentence for espionage following years of detention earlier this year. Yang maintains innocence, with rights groups asserting the charges are politically motivated.
Albanese mentioned that he brought up Yang’s case with Li, but declined to provide updates regarding the well-being of the democracy activist, who stated concerns about potential health issues in jail.
In response to Cheng being obstructed from view by officials during the document signing on Monday, Albanese stated during a later press conference that he didn’t witness the event, but emphasized the importance of allowing people to fully participate and that is what ought to happen in Australia.
Pandas and visas
The incident on Monday serves as a stark reminder of the strained China-Canberra relations and widespread worries within Australia, a steadfast ally of the United States, concerning China’s authoritarianism during a journey meant to foster goodwill.
The four-day visit of Li, China’s second-highest official, to Australia represented the highest-level trip of any Chinese official to a US-allied country in seven years. It comes as the two countries have made progress in healing deep tensions over issues of trade, security, and Beijing's alleged political influence in Australia and the South Pacific.
Albanese and Li shared a platform following the signing ceremony, where Albanese characterized the visit as “another significant step toward stabilizing” the relationship.
The Chinese premier, speaking through a translator, vowed that China would collaborate with Australia in a "spirit of mutual respect, seeking common ground while acknowledging differences and mutual benefit."
Li announced on Sunday that China would offer a new pair of giant pandas to the Adelaide Zoo in southern Australia after its current pair depart for China later this year – rekindling a traditional gesture of friendship referred to as "panda diplomacy."
China would also include Australia in its visa waiver program, Li declared on Monday.
Specifics were not announced immediately, but follow similar visa arrangements with other countries in recent months as China works to attract more international tourists to revitalize its economy after years of Covid-19 border restrictions. Li announced a waiver scheme for New Zealand during a visit last Friday.
The leaders agreed on increased military-to-military communication, as per Albanese.
The agreement follows recent close encounters of the two powers. In May, a Chinese fighter jet discharged flares into the path of an Australian helicopter during their voyage over the Yellow Sea, an incident that Albanese condemned as "totally unacceptable" at the time.
Li's trip to Australia takes place as China has been gradually lifting economic restrictions that it imposed on key Australian imports, including beef, barley, timber, coal, and wine, after then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an international inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic in China.
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Despite the positive steps taken during Li's visit to Australia, the incident involving the obstructing of Cheng Lei from the cameras during the press gathering tarnished Australia's image globally.
Moreover, the world is closely watching Australia's interactions with China, given the strained relations between the two nations and concerns over China's authoritarianism.
