Ex-Journalist and Ex-Prisoner Denied Entry to Second Media Event Amid CCP Premier Visit
The journalist was prevented from attending a government press event, this time by Australian officials.
Staff from the Australian prime minister’s office denied access to Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei when she tried to cover Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s meeting with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Premier Li Qiang.
Recently, at a press event attended by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and CCP Premier Li Qiang at Parliament House, Chinese Embassy staff also tried to prevent Ms. Cheng from being filmed by local media. Ms. Cheng, a former anchor of CGTN, a Chinese state-run channel, was previously detained in China for three years for releasing a government press release a few minutes before the embargo was lifted.
Upon her release and return to Australia in 2023, Ms. Cheng began working for Sky News Australia. The incidents surrounding her exclusion from the press event highlight the tensions during the recent visit of the CCP premier, with Ms. Cheng noting that Beijing viewed her as a symbolic figure and did not want her visibility for the domestic audience.
Banned From Entering The Meeting Room
Ms. Cheng was informed that she could not be present during the opening remarks of Mr. Dutton and Mr. Li at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra on June 19, despite being registered for the event. Even after being promised access by a media staff member from Mr. Dutton’s office, Ms. Cheng was denied entry, raising questions about the treatment of Australian journalists.
Following the incident, politicians and government officials from both sides were seen entering the meeting room, while Ms. Cheng was blocked, prompting her to question the selective treatment. Ms. Cheng expressed her disappointment at the behavior of the PM’s staff, contrasting it with previous attempts by an Australian official to assist her in participating in an event at Parliament House.
Politicians Back Cheng Lei
While Mr. Albanese expressed concerns to the Chinese embassy regarding the previous incident at Parliament House, he refrained from commenting on the actions of his staff at the Hyatt. Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham emphasized the importance of press freedom, urging respect for Ms. Cheng as an Australian journalist.
Mr. Dutton, on the other hand, criticized the Prime Minister for not standing up, calling for stronger actions to support journalists. The attempts by Beijing officials to sideline Ms. Cheng have overshadowed Mr. Li’s visit to Australia, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists covering such high-profile events.
New Zealand PM’s Response
New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon defended limitations on journalist questioning during the CCP premier’s visit, citing different protocols. He acknowledged the importance of media access in democracy but also highlighted the need to respect protocols when hosting foreign dignitaries.
In a separate incident, CCP officials in New Zealand allegedly mistreated reporters at events attended by Prime Minister Luxon and the CCP premier. Mr. Luxon encouraged reporters to file formal complaints for investigation into the incidents.
