Sky News journalist Cheng Lei blocked by Chinese from second media event

Sky News Australia journalist Cheng Lei has revealed she was denied entrance to a second press event with the Chinese Premier and Peter Dutton after being told she ‘wasn’t on the list’.

Sky News Australia journalist Cheng Lei was blocked from covering Peter Dutton’s meeting with China’s Premier Li Qiang, adding to a diplomatic controversy that has gone entirely unreported on the Chinese internet.

The Opposition Leader criticised Anthony Albanese over his initial response to an earlier effort in Parliament House by Chinese diplomats to block Ms Cheng from television cameras, telling the Prime Minister to “grow a backbone”.

But on Wednesday, Ms Cheng revealed she had also been blocked from attending the opening remarks of a meeting between Mr Dutton and the Chinese Premier at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra, despite a member of the opposition’s staff assuring her: “I’ll get you in.”

Ms Cheng, who was imprisoned in Beijing for almost three years on dubious national security charges, said she was blocked after an intervention by the same two staff at the Chinese Embassy who had shadowed her at an earlier press event in Parliament House.

“This is our turf, we can veto it,” Ms Cheng said she overheard one of the Chinese officials saying to their counterpart.

Ms Cheng, whose bureau chief had registered her for the event, said an Australian official shortly afterwards told her she would not be allowed to go in.

“But I’ve been registered since last week,” said Ms Cheng, in her account which was first published by Sky News Australia.

“Well … that’s only an expression of interest. Dutton’s team can decide who gets to come in. You’re not on there,” the Australian official replied.

Mr Dutton’s office on Wednesday declined to comment on Ms Cheng’s account.

A person involved with the event told The Australian that it was a “pic fac”, with only photographers and cameramen allowed in.

The Chinese delegation had insisted that no Australian journalists were allowed to ask Mr Li a question during his visit. The same demand was made during the Chinese Premier’s earlier stop in New Zealand.

An earlier tussle between Australian and Chinese officials in Parliament House has been the most discussed event in Australia’s media during the trip by China’s Premier, overshadowing the positive message Beijing had intended to send with the rare visit.

The Prime Minister described the behaviour by the Chinese diplomats as “rude” and “inappropriate”. But while the episode has been debated on Australian newspaper front pages, television bulletins and radio programs, it has not been mentioned anywhere on Chinese media or even social media, which are both subject to tight censorship.

Chen Hong, the director of Australian studies at Shanghai’s East China Normal University, disputed suggestions there had been a ban on reporting the episode.

“I don’t think there is any deliberate screening. This is a storm in a teacup,” Professor Chen told The Australian.

“I don’t even think it is an ‘incident’. Why should we be exaggerating such an issue?” he said.

The starkly different coverage of the visit by Chinese and Australian media has demonstrated the vast gulf in the two countries’ political systems and media environments.

Recent polling has also revealed dramatically different perceptions in the two countries, with most Chinese having a favouring opinion of Australia while most people in Australia are anxious about China.

China’s coverage has been positive throughout Mr Li’s four day visit, with the front page of Wednesday’s China Daily declaring: “Beijing, Canberra to expand co-operation.”

Professor Chen said there was a frustration among many in China who work on Australian issues with our media’s continual focus on the “dark side” of the relationship.

He said the Chinese Premier had been frank during the trip that there remain “differences” between the two countries, but said the “bright side” of the relationship should be the most important takeaway from the trip.

Ms Cheng said it had been an emotionally draining experience. “The worst thing about being bilingual and bi-cultural is that I see it all. The Chinese side and the Australian business community would prefer the friendly facade,” she wrote.

“Some of my Aussie business contacts went silent after my story broke … I wondered if all the Canberra bureaucrats were annoyed at me.

“I do not like the feeling I am fodder for China hawks or an unfortunate existence for China doves,” she wrote.