China ‘shot itself in the foot’ by blocking Australian journalist Cheng Lei

China “shot itself in the foot” when its officials apparently tried to block an Australian journalist from being seen on camera.

Sometimes the more you try to hide something, the more widely it is publicised.

Made famous by Barbra Streisand’s attempts to suppress photos of her clifftop residence, and known as the Streisand effect (chengyu in Chinese), China is the latest to fall victim.

Yesterday as Australian PM Anthony Albanese prepared to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a press conference, Chinese embassy officials reportedly moved in front of Australian journalist Cheng Lei to block her from being viewed by cameras.

Sky News host Cheng Lei was blocked by Chinese officials at a media event. Photo: Sky News

The Sky News presenter was released last year after being held in China after she was accused of breaking vague Chinese national security laws, charges which the International Federation of Journalists called spurious and which are widely seen as trumped-up.

She spent three years locked up in a Chinese prison.

Awkward video shows the moment the Chinese embassy staff stood in front of cameras yesterday, blocking Ms Lei from being seen as Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepared to speak with reporters.

Australian journalist Cheng Lei was blocked from being seen during an event with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and China Premier Li Qianq. Picture: Supplied

The Chinese embassy staff refused to move even as Australian officials gently tried to prod them away.

The attempt to try and hide Ms Lei backfired badly and the story quickly made headlines. Instead of being hidden, her photo was shared widely across Australian news sites.

Mr Albanese said he wasn’t aware of the incident when it took place.

He later told the ABC that Australian officials had expressed concern to the Chinese Embassy about the “clumsy” incident, adding she had been the first journalist to ask a question at the event and describing her has “a very decent human being and a very professional journalist”.

He said Australian journalists should not be impeded from doing their jobs, which had been made clear to the Chinese Embassy.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with China's Premier Li Qiang during a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on June 17, 2024. Picture: AFP

Sky News host Tom Connell said it appeared to be an attempt to prevent footage showing Ms Lei and the Chinese Premier in the same frame.

Ms Lei explained why she moved seats during the incident saying, “I wanted to get away from the guy who was standing next to me.

“I think the worry is that, my being there, is a symbol of some sort, maybe they didn’t want that for the domestic audience.

She added that Chinese officials were “control freakish” during diplomatic events.

“They want to know everything and they want to stage manage everything.”

She told The Australian the officials had “shot themselves in the foot”.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s actually not that surprising the way they behave, because this is what trying to have utter control actually does.”

She said she didn’t want the incident to overshadow what was an important story of the Premier’s visit to Australia.

“It’s enough of a circus without me being the side show.”

Originally published as China ‘shot itself in the foot’ by blocking Australian journalist Cheng Lei