CANBERRA, Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday that Cheng Lei, a Chinese-Australian journalist who had been convicted on ambiguous espionage charges and detained in China for three years, has finally returned to Australia.
Cheng Lei has now reunited with her two children in Melbourne, marking the end of a prolonged and challenging ordeal. The 48-year-old journalist had been employed in the international department of China’s state broadcaster, CCTV.
Prime Minister Albanese shared the update, emphasizing that Cheng Lei’s case was resolved through the legal processes in China. Her return home follows sustained efforts by the Australian government to secure her release.
Cheng Lei’s repatriation comes in anticipation of Prime Minister Albanese’s upcoming visit to Beijing later this year, with the specific date yet to be announced. This visit underlines the commitment of both countries to maintain diplomatic relations and address outstanding issues.
Albanese’s government has been actively advocating for the release of not only Cheng Lei but also another Chinese-Australian, Yang Hengjun, who has been detained in China since 2019.
