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Agence France-Presse

An Australian journalist and former high-profile prisoner said Chinese officials tried to “block” her at a press conference in Canberra on Monday in an apparent attempt to stem negative coverage of Premier Li Qiang’s visit.
A former anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, Cheng Lei spent three years detained in China on murky spying accusations before she was released to Australia in October 2023.
She has written extensively about the bleak conditions and tough treatment she faced while in detention.
Cheng, now working as a journalist for Sky News Australia, said Chinese officials tried to stop her being filmed when she arrived to cover Li’s visit to the nation’s parliament on Monday.

“They went to great lengths to block me from the cameras and to flank me,” she told Sky News Australia.
“And I’m guessing that’s to prevent me from saying something or doing something that they think would be a bad look,” she told Sky News Australia. “But that itself is a bad look.”
Footage shows two individuals huddling next to Cheng at the media event, in what she says was an effort to stop her being filmed, before Australian officials intervene and moved her to a new seat.
Australian media said the individuals were Chinese diplomats, but this could not be independently confirmed.


Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he “didn’t see” the incident, but that journalists should “be allowed to participate fully” inside the country’s parliament.
Cheng was detained in China between August 2020 and October 2023, charged with “supplying state secrets overseas” in a case that many saw as politically motivated.
The mother of two had been a familiar face on the state broadcaster’s English-language channel, conducting interviews with noted CEOs from around the world.
She was tried behind closed doors, with even Australia’s ambassador to China blocked from entering the court to observe proceedings.

Cheng’s case had been a serious point of friction between Canberra and Beijing.
China’s ministry of state security said at the time that Cheng was deported after serving her time on charges of “illegally providing state secrets overseas”.
Li’s visit comes as the trading partners moved on from a bitter economic dispute, despite a duel for influence in the Pacific.
Li, the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit since 2017, said his trip to Australia demonstrated “that this relationship is on the right track of steady improvement and development”.


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Australia

Australian reporter Cheng Lei, detained in China, says diplomats tried to ‘block’ her at Li Qiang event

Australian journalist Cheng Lei observes a signing ceremony by China’s Premier Li Qiang and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday. Photo: AFP

Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei (left) said Chinese diplomats tried to “block” her during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to parliament on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Australian journalist Cheng Lei (centre) attends a signing ceremony by China’s Premier Li Qiang and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday. Photo: AFP/Pool

Australian writer’s sentence upheld ahead of China premier’s visit, supporters say

Protesters hold placards demanding the release of writer and businessman Yang Hengjun during a rally outside Parliament House in Canberra in March. Photo: AFP

Yang Hengjun and his wife Yuan Xiaoliang. File photo: Chongyi Feng via AP

China’s Li Qiang promises Australia more pandas: ‘pick a pair’

China’s Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (left) at Adelaide Zoo on Sunday. Photo: dpa

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (left) and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (centre) look on as China’s Premier Li Qiang reacts in front of the panda enclosure at Adelaide Zoo on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Wang Wang the panda is seen with its head in a box during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to the Adelaide Zoo on Sunday. Li said he was impressed by Wang Wang’s appetite. Photo: AFP

Li shakes hands with Malinauskas, premier of the state of South Australia, at Adelaide Zoo on Sunday. Photo: dpa

People wave Chinese national flags as they await the arrival of Premier Li at Adelaide Zoo on Sunday. Photo: dpa

A trophy with the chemical symbol for lithium is seen at Tianqi Lithium’s Perth headquarters. Li’s visit to Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia’s processing plant south of the Western Australia capital will underscore China’s interest in investing in critical minerals. Photo: Reuters

Australian journalist Cheng Lei gives first interview since China detention, feels ‘very fragile’

Australian journalist Cheng Lei upon her arrival at the airport in Melbourne. Photo:Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/ AFP

Chinese Australian journalist Cheng Lei speaks with Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, on October 11. Photo: Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade via AP

Australia’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ praised as journalist Cheng Lei returns home from China detention

Australian journalist Cheng Lei poses for a selfie at an unknown location in an undated picture obtained by Reuters on Wednesday. Photo: Nicholas Coyle/Handout via Reuters

Australian journalist Cheng Lei upon her arrival at the airport in Melbourne on Wednesday. Photo: Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/ Australia Global Alumni/AFP

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) with Australian journalist Cheng Lei upon her arrival at the airport in Melbourne on Wednesday. Photo: Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Australia Global Alumni/AFP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Cheng’s release would facilitate his visit to China at a “mutually agreed time” this year. Photo: AFP

China-Australia relations: journalist Cheng Lei’s release helped by improved Beijing ties says minister Penny Wong

Chinese Australian journalist Cheng Lei, right, poses with Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong on Wednesday. Cheng, who was convicted on espionage charges and detained in China for three years has returned to Australia. Photo: AP

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) speaks with Australian journalist Cheng Lei upon her arrival at the airport in Melbourne. Photo: Sarah Hodges/Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Agence France-Presse

News

Asia

Australasia

Cheng Lei, now working for Sky News Australia, said Chinese officials tried to stop her being filmed during Premier Li Qiang’s visit


Cheng Lei, who spent three years detained on the mainland, and now works for Sky News Australia, said Chinese officials tried to stop her when she arrived to cover Premier Li Qiang’s visit to parliament.


China-Australia relations

Diplomacy

Canberra