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According to the Chinese embassy in Canberra, Australia, some Chinese journalists have been questioned by Australian intelligence agents and their computers and smartphones have been seized – in violation of their rights, according to Chinese diplomats. The embassy denounced the incident – which dates back to the end of June – on its website, sharing an article in the Chinese newspaper. Global times according to which Australian intelligence raided the residences of Chinese journalists in Australia. The news comes in a climate of growing tension between the two countries.
Two Australian journalists, Bill Birtles, a correspondent for the Beijing-based Australian Broadcasting Corp, and Michael Smith of the Shanghai-based Australian Financial Review, left China on Tuesday after being implicated by Chinese authorities in the investigation into the well-known Australian and Chinese TV presenter Cheng Lei, who was arrested last month. Birtles admitted to knowing Cheng, although not very well, while Smith said he only met her once.
At first, the Chinese authorities notified the two journalists that they were prohibited from leaving the country, but Birtles and Smith managed to reach the Australian embassy. Then, after a negotiation between the two countries, the reporters sailed for Australia on Monday. Before leaving China, they agreed to be questioned by the Chinese Ministry of State Security. They arrived in Australia on Tuesday morning.
Tensions between China and Australia escalated after Cheng’s arrest. The reporter broadcast a news program in English on the CGTN channel, which is part of the Chinese state television CCTV. No formal charges have been brought against her and the Chinese authorities have not clarified the reason for her arrest. At the moment we only know that diplomatic talks are taking place to try to obtain more information, but the matter is also provoking talks because for some time the tensions between Australia and China have intensified greatly.
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As explained by the Australian site ABCCheng is not formally charged, but he has been under “residential surveillance at a designated place” since at least August 14, which is a tool with which Chinese police forces can arrest a suspect and hold him for up to six months. Chinese law states that with this type of surveillance the authorities can prevent the detained person from contacting anyone, including lawyers, even before an accusation is filed.
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