AUSTRALIAN officials had a moment of celebration after former Chinese state TV anchor Cheng Lei arrived at the Melbourne airport and reunited with her family as well as her two young children.
Cheng, who worked for the international department of China’s state broadcaster, was detained in August 2020 and formally arrested in February 2021 on charges of “supplying state secrets overseas.” The 48-year-old Chinese Australian journalist denied the charges against her.
Cheng was born in China but has been an Australian citizen for years after she migrated to Melbourne with her parents at the age of ten.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese happily announced her arrival on Australian soil which reunited her with her two children and her family.
“I am pleased to confirm that Ms Cheng Lei has arrived safely home in Australia, and has been reunited with her two children and her family. I spoke with her on the phone this afternoon. This is an outcome the Australian government has been seeking for a long time,” according to Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong greeted Cheng with a hug at the airport.
Her release came at a time of improving trade ties between Australia and China, with Beijing starting to ease trade sanctions on several Australian products this year.
Meanwhile, Albanese previously announced his plan to visit China this year. It will be the first time an Australian leader will visit the country in seven years.
Australia also preparing for the influx of Chinese tourists in the coming weeks after China announced the resumption of group tours to 78 countries and regions.
Her release is not only seen as a triumph for Australian diplomacy but also a serious intent by Canberra and Beijing to improve bilateral ties.
