Imprisoned journalist Cheng Lei will wait three more months after a verdict on her case delayed

Australian-Chinese journalist Cheng Lei is going to chalk up three years behind bars and her hope for release has suffered another major setback.

Journalist Cheng Lei, who is approaching three years behind bars next month, will have to wait until at least October for a decision to be made about her future. Picture: Getty Images

Detained Australian television journalist Cheng Lei’s fight for freedom has been dealt another blow after her verdict was delayed for the eighth time.

The 48-year-old, who is approaching three years behind bars next month, will have to wait until at least October for a decision to be made about her future.

Cheng was detained by the Chinese Ministry of State Security in August 2020 after being charged with providing state secrets to foreign organisations and details around her arrest remain scant.

Her partner, Nick Coyle, who lives in Port Moresby, said the latest delay to a verdict being reached was “deeply disappointing” for her and her family.

“There is no doubt the longer this continues the more difficult it is for her and her two children,” he told The Australian.

“Having yet another birthday in a Ministry of State Security facility was difficult but she continues to show enormous courage and good humour.

“She was telling me recently in a letter about what she misses most about Australia — chats with strangers, our different cultures, produce markets which light up the senses, bushwalking, kids running around, grass, buskers, op shops, Aussie radio — the little things.”

Cheng has two children, aged 11 and 14, who live in Melbourne with her mother. Mr Coyle is not the father of her children.

Cheng was an anchor for the Chinese government’s English TV channel, CGTN, when she was detained in 2020. The incident occurred at about the time there was a breakdown of relations between Australia and China.

The Lowy Institute’s China analyst Richard McGregor said the postponement delayed her chances of being released on humanitarian grounds and was problematic for Australian Chinese relations. “The case of Cheng Lei and (Australian writer) Mr Yang hangs over the relationship and it’s a struggle for it to be substantially improved and lay the foundation for a visit by Mr Albanese as long as (the case) goes on,” he said.

Yang Hengjun was arrested in January 2020 at Guangzhou airport after arriving from New York but details surrounding the reason for his arrest have never been made public.

Prime Minister Albanese told Sky News Australia last week a visit to China would be go ahead this year.

“I think it is likely to be the case, we’re discussing arrangements between officials, I’ve been invited to go to China,” he said.

“I have said very clearly that we will co-operate with China where we can, we will disagree where we must and we will engage in our national interests.”

Mr Coyle said resolving his partner’s case as soon as possible would be beneficial to relations between Australia and China.

“If Lei’s situation were to be resolved expeditiously and compassionately, this would greatly improve the atmospherics for such an important visit,” he said.

“Australians would view such a resolution an important gesture, a point which I am sure is well understood in Beijing.”

The Chinese Embassy in Australia said in a statement: “China’s judicial authorities have handled the case in accordance with the law and the lawful rights of Cheng are under full protection.”

A DFAT spokeswoman said the Australian government was concerned for Cheng and would “continue to advocate at the highest levels”.