The Australian government said it remains seriously concerned about the welfare of a Chinese-born Australian journalist a year after she was first detained in China. “The Australian government remains seriously concerned about Ms Cheng’s detention and welfare and has regularly raised these issues at senior levels,” Ms Payne said in a statement. “We are particularly concerned that one year into her detention, there remains a lack of transparency about the reasons for Ms Cheng’s detention,” she added. Before the last two journalists working for Australian media in China left the country in September, they were questioned by Chinese authorities about Ms Cheng. Australian Broadcasting Corp reporter Bill Birtles and The Australian Financial Review’s Michael Smith were told they were “persons of interest” in an investigation into Ms Cheng.

Source: Irish Examiner August 13, 2021 08:03 UTC