An Australian
journalist is facing trial in China after Beijing accused her of transferring state
secrets overseas. The journalist, Cheng Lei, worked as a news anchor for CGTN,
a Chinese state-sponsored television network until August 2020 when she was
arrested.

The precise nature
of the accusations against Lei remains unclear. A closed-door trial is underway.
Australia has expressed concerns over Lei’s detention and called for “basic standards
of justice” to be met.  

On Thursday, Australia’s
ambassador to China sought to attend the hearing but was not allowed to because,
according to Chinese authorities, the case pertained to state secrets. Chinese
courts have been known to hold secret trials in politically-sensitive cases.

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The ambassador, Graham
Fletcher, said of the trial, that it was concerning, unsatisfactory and
regrettable. “We have no confidence in the validity of the process which is
conducted in secret.” Australia would continue to advocate strongly for Cheng
Lei’s rights and interests, Fletcher told the media.

Australia has also
sought for Cheng Lei’s children to speak to their mother. Fletcher said Cheng
Lei’s children have had no communication with her since her detention. Her
family issued a statement saying that her children and elders “miss her
immensely and sincerely hope to reunite with her as soon as possible,” Reuters
reported.

Cheng Lei had
worked in Beijing for several years prior to her arrest. In August 2020, she
was wiped clean from television screens and her family could not contact her.
CGTN, the state-funded television network she worked for, removed her profile page
and work.

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Australian
representatives are able to visit her once a month in line with the consular
agreement with China. With relations between Australia and China having taken a
hit over the last few years, it has become difficult for Canberra to negotiate
with Beijing authorities.

Cheng Lei’s
detention has caused two other Australian journalists to flee China. Another Australian,
writer Yang Henjun, has been in detention in China for three years on charges
of espionage that he denies. Henjun’s health is said to be suffering.

Nearly 127
journalists were under detention in China until December 2020, according to a
Reports Without Borders report. The report had described China as the “world’s
biggest captor of journalists” and said President Xi Jinping had created a “nightmare”
of media oppression characteristic of the Mao Zedong-era.