Australian-Chinese Journalist Detained in China for 3 Years Returns to Australia

Cheng Lei, a Chinese-Australian journalist who had been detained in China on espionage charges for three years, has returned to her home country, Australia, as confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Cheng Lei has been successfully reunited with her two children in Melbourne, marking the end of a long and challenging ordeal.

The 48-year-old journalist had been employed by the international department of China’s state broadcaster, CCTV. Her detention and subsequent legal processes in China had raised concerns and sparked international efforts to secure her release.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed that Cheng Lei’s case had been concluded through the legal procedures in China, leading to her return to Australia. The Australian government had been actively lobbying for her release along with another Chinese-Australian, Yang Hengjun, who has been held in China since 2019.

Cheng Lei’s return to Australia is seen as a positive development in the context of diplomatic relations between Australia and China. Prime Minister Albanese also noted that he intends to visit Beijing this year, with the exact date yet to be announced. The Australian government continues its efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.