China says Oz TV anchor detained

Beijing, Sept. 8: China said Tuesday that it had detained a high- profile Australian journalist working for its state media on “national security grounds”. Cheng Lei’s detention was a new blow to deteriorating relations between the two countries that have seen China warn its citizens of travelling to Australia and vice versa.

In the first comments on

anchor Cheng Lei, held since August 14, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said authorities took “compulsory measures” against her on suspicion “of criminal activity endangering China’s national security”.

“The case is still in the process of investigation in accordance with the law,” Zhao said, adding that her “legal rights and interests are all receiving full legal protection”. He did not give further details of the allegations against her.

Cheng — who conducted interviews with international CEOs for CGTN’s Global Business and BizTalk shows — has not been seen in public since being held, although Australian diplomats in Beijing were able to speak to her on August 27.

“As long as foreign journalists obey the law... they have no reason to worry,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Cheng is the second highprofile Australian citizen to be detained in Beijing after writer Yang Hengjun was arrested in January 2019 on suspicion of espionage. Earlier this year, Australia warned its citizens they faced the risk of arbitrary detention if they travelled to China.

Last 2 Oz journalists flown out of China amid diplomatic standoff Melbourne, Sept 8: Two journalists from Australia working in China have been evacuated after they were questioned by Chinese police and were forced to seek refuge in Australian diplomatic missions in the communist nation amidst a diplomatic standoff between Canberra and Beijing.

Bill Birtles, the ABC’s correspondent based in

Beijing, and Mike Smith, the Australian Financial Review’s ( AFR) correspondent based in Shanghai, boarded a flight to Sydney on Monday night after they were questioned separately by China’s Ministry of State security, the report said. They landed in Sydney on Tuesday.

With the two journalists moving out of China, Australia now has no accredited reporter left in the country for the first time since the mid- 1970s. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a statement on Tuesday said consular officials had provided support to the journalists. “The Australian Government has provided consular support to two Australian journalists in China to assist their return to Australia. Those Australians have now arrived in Australia. Our Embassy in Beijing and ConsulateGeneral in Shanghai engaged with Chinese Government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia,” she said.

Seven uniformed officers simultaneously visited the homes of Smith in Shanghai and Birtles in Beijing on Thursday morning. Both journalists were told they were persons of interest in an investigation into Cheng who was detained last month, the AFR reported.

According to ABC, the reporters were told they were banned from leaving the country and needed to organise a time to be questioned over a “national security case”. Birtles spent four days sheltering in Australia’s Embassy in Beijing, while Smith took refuge in Shanghai consulate.

THE AUSTRALIAN Government has provided consular support to two Australian journalists in China to assist their return to Australia. Those Australians have now arrived in Australia. Our Embassy in Beijing and Consulate- General in Shanghai engaged with Chinese Government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia,

MARISA PAYNE, Oz foreign minister