Cheng Lei exposes China’s ‘secretive’ prison system in new memoir

Sky News presenter Cheng Lei is set to release a “harrowing” memoir in April, detailing her three-year incarceration in China.

A former Australian of the Year, who was incarcerated in Beijing for more than three years for supplying “state secrets” to overseas organisations, has announced the release of a “harrowing” memoir.

Sky News presenter Cheng Lei details her experience of being “isolated from the world” for more than three years in her new book Cheng Lei: A memoir of freedom.

The Australian-Chinese journalist was the anchor of China’s government-run, English-language Global Business TV show in August 2020.

Lei was a veteran business journalist at the “pinnacle” of her career when she was met by officers from the Ministry of State Security after arriving for work one morning.

The officers searched Lei’s apartment before blindfolding her and driving her to a secret location.

Cheng Lei has detailed her experience of being ‘isolated from the world’ in her new memoir. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The mother of two described being detained, isolated and interrogated, while cut off from all contact with her family and friends and disappearing from TV screens.

The now 50-year-old said the book is part of her new “life mantra” to make the most of her freedom.

“For three years and two months I was isolated from the world; I had no voice except for a strictly monitored 30-minute visit each month by embassy officials, no pen except in the few hours per month when I was permitted to write a letter to family,” she said.

“I was so starved of expression and longed to connect with people.

“Now I’m starting a public conversation with a book to make up for that loss.”

Cheng Lei said her memoir was part of a new ‘life mantra’ to make freedom count. Photo: Tina Smigielski

Lei was coerced into agreeing to a five-year prison term, triggering a public fight for her release and making global news.

She said she didn’t hear her children’s voices for more than two years, didn’t see her lawyer for 10 months, didn’t see the “entirety” of the sky for three years and two months, and waited a year and a half before a 90-minute show trial.

In court, Lei discovered the authorities had been monitoring her since April 2020, four months before her arrest.

She was charged with illegally supplying state secrets to foreign organisations and said releasing an embargoed government report to another journalist was central to the allegations.

Australian diplomatic efforts secured her release, and she was reunited with her family in October 2023.

Lei received the Press Freedom Award from the Australian Press Council in 2024 and was The Australian newspaper’s Australian of the Year in 2023.

HarperCollins Australia describe the memoir as “harrowing, fierce and occasionally darkly humorous”.

Head of nonfiction Helen Littleton said Lei provided raw and powerful insight into her journey.

“Cheng Lei’s memoir is a brave and compelling narrative that demands to be read, offering an unflinching look into China’s secretive prison system,” she said.

Sky News is also set to air a new documentary about Lei, offering an “intimate look at her harrowing experience”.

The documentary will shed light on her story, including the international efforts to secure her release.