Australian journalist Cheng Lei ‘humbled by support from home

Detained journalist Cheng Lei was humbled by the response from Australians following the publishing of a lengthy public message she sent home.

Detained journalist Cheng Lei was humbled by the response from Australians following the publishing of a lengthy public message she sent home.

The 48-year-old Chinese-Australian journalist recently passed the three-year anniversary of her detainment, and was given details about the extensive media coverage of her heartfelt letter during an August 24 visit by consular officials.

In the letter she wrote that she longs to come home and gives herself pretend hugs in prison from her family members. Her partner, Nick Coyle, who lives in Port Moresby, told The Australian she was overwhelmed with the media and Australian public response.

“Lei was informed by consular officials with regard to the press and related coverage,” he said.

“She was humbled by the response to her message from the Australian public. This gives her terrific encouragement and all she wishes for is to be reunited with her children and family as soon as possible.”

Mr Coyle read his partner’s letter out on the ABC’s 7.30 program and numerous media outlets including The Australian published its contents, which drew large public interest.

Lei Cheng, former anchor of CGTN.

The former anchor for the Chinese government’s English TV channel, CGTN, was detained by the Chinese Ministry of State Security in 2020 and few details have been revealed about the reasons for her arrest. The earliest she can now expect a verdict is October.

In her letter written to the Australian public, which also gained huge media traction internationally, including on the BBC, she revealed she could only see sunlight for 10 hours a year in her Chinese jail and she misses her home country, where her 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son live with her mother in Melbourne. “Most of all I miss my children,” she said in the letter published last month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed last week that he would fly to China later this year to hold talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping to mark the 50th anniversary of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s historic visit.

Mr Coyle, who is not the father of Cheng’s children, said the improvement in relations between Australia and China was critical in helping with his partner’s release.

“Dialogue is inherently a positive development and there are good people from both Australia and China who wish to see the bilateral relationship firmly focused on the positive aspects of such engagement,” he said.

“Resolving Cheng Lei’s case swiftly and compassionately … would unambiguously be a highly positive development. Such a gesture would not only reassure the Australian public, but bring a renewed sense of optimism for what can be possible going forward.”

Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised consular cases with Chinese counterparts including with China’s Premier Li Qiang this month and director Wang Yi in July. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the government continued to advocate for Ms Cheng’s “interests and wellbeing at the highest levels”.

Originally published as Australian journalist Cheng Lei ‘humbled by support from home