/ 03 June 2022

Concerns for detained Aussie TV anchor

Image source: Flickr
Image source: Flickr

Nick Coyle, the partner of Aussie journalist Cheng Lei, is concerned about her deteriorating health as she remains in detention in China. Cheng was an anchor for the Chinese state media’s English-language broadcaster CGTN before she was detained in August 2020 and accused of providing state secrets to foreigners. A Chinese court deferred its verdict after Cheng was tried in secret in March, but there’s not a lot of hope for her release – the country has a 99% conviction rate in criminal trials. Coyle, who is the outgoing boss of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, says she has a “range of health issues” that have worsened in detention, exacerbated by a diet of white raw rice. And he said that monthly consular visits and video meetings have been suspended due to China’s strict coronavirus rules. As for her 2 young children, her partner said they are “dealing with things as well as they can”.

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