Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian has claimed the detainment of Australian journalist Cheng Lei last month was on “national security” grounds.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian has defended the detainment of Australian journalist Cheng Lei last month, claiming it was on "national security" grounds. "The relevant authorities have recently taken compulsory measures and scrutinised an Australian citizen Cheng Leo for being suspected in criminal activities and endangering China's national security," Mr Zhao said.
Australia has no accredited correspondents in China for the first time in almost half a century, marking a new low in relations. Former High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer labelled Beijing's actions "a new low" in relations as the Asian power engaged in bully tactics. "The fact that by all accounts these journalists were called on by the offices of the ministry of state security in the middle of the night... is extremely intimidating," Mr Downer said.
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