Australian TV journalist Cheng Lei was blocked from entering a second major government press event just hours after Chinese embassy staff created a bizarre diplomatic incident by attempting obstructing her view.
TV journalist Cheng Lei blocked from entering a second major government press event hours after bizarre diplomatic incident
After spending nearly three years detained in China on trumped up charges, Cheng had become an uncomfortable reality of issues with press freedom for the Chinese delegation. Star TV journalist Cheng Lei was blocked from entering a second major government press event just hours after Chinese embassy staff created a bizarre diplomatic incident by attempting obstructing her view. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
After we watched the welcome ceremony for a while, she turned to me and asked with a smile: “Journalist Cheng Lei, I used to watch your show all the time”. “Are you Xinhua?” I asked. If not the state news agency, then the embassy. “Are you going to the lunch?” she asked, referring to the Li-Albanese state lunch. “Are you going to other events too?”Even before the exchange it occurred to me the Chinese would get nervous about my presence.
Later I was told by a journalist sitting in the back that he’s the one who directed the Chinese embassy staff to stay on me. The Chinese ministers came in and took their seats. Katina from the West Australian volunteered to swap seats with me. I thought, ah, now I can concentrate on the news at hand. But Brown Coat quickly came over to try to stand next to me, another PMC staffer saw what was happening and stood next to me instead, keeping her away from me. Blue Suit still stood there.
As the officials left, I saw the PMC staff having a word with the Chinese embassy staff. I hoped it was to tell them their behaviour was not on. “It’s not awkward at all,” I said sarcastically to my cameraman, wondering if the two were being lauded internally for determinedly blocking me or being criticised for not being flexible enough to avoid a scene.
I was still confident I could go in, because the man from Dutton’s media team had assured me he could get me in. I had declined many interview requests. To prepare for reporting in Canberra I had interviewed business leaders, diplomats, human rights activists, bureaucrats. I knew how much was at stake and how difficult the intricate balance was among stakeholders. I can only imagine the craziness in the background to craft the perfect image for public consumption.But she doesn’t know me.
Now diplomats were risking ridicule to keep me out of sight. I was not chanting slogans or bearing placards or doing anything except try to see what was going on and tell people about it. I wondered if all the Canberra bureaucrats were annoyed at me – if I hadn’t been there, their efforts for the visit would have achieved a much better outcome, there’d be less media scrutiny and criticism. I wondered if the Chinese are going to ask for lists of reporters the next time there’s an official visit, learning from their mistake and going for a behind the scenes coercive approach. Thankfully we don’t give them out due to privacy requirements.
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