Australia's ambassador to China was denied entry into the trial in Beijing, with the Australian journalist having spent 18 months in detention over accusations of supplying state secrets
Journalist groups have renewed calls for the release of Cheng Lei, ahead of her trial in Beijing on espionage charges.Australian journalist Cheng Lei has faced a closed-door trial in China after 18 months in detention over accusations of supplying state secrets, with Canberra saying the decision to deny its ambassador access to the hearing was "deeply concerning".
"This is deeply concerning, unsatisfactory and very regrettable. We can have no confidence in the validity of a process which is conducted in secret."Ms Cheng could face life imprisonment if deemed to have committed serious violations of China's national security laws. Ambassador Fletcher assuaged some of those worries on Thursday, saying "she is bearing up OK" and had chosen "very competent lawyers" to defend her.
Beijing has lashed out at Australia's use of foreign interference laws to block Chinese investment in sensitive sectors and examine Chinese influence on the country's public life.