Even in Canberra’s Parliament House – Australia’s monument to democracy – Cheng Lei cannot avoid being hassled by the Chinese government.
Just eight months ago, Cheng was locked up in a detention facility in Beijing, facing a long prison sentence after being accused of vague national security charges.
She was released last October following strenuous lobbying by Australian officials. The Chinese-Australian journalist is now living freely in Australia and working as a journalist for Sky News.
In this capacity, Cheng attended a signing ceremony on Monday morning following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Under conditions demanded by the Chinese government, no questions would be taken from the media, but the two leaders would deliver some brief remarks.
All very civil and formal, supposedly. Then something strange happened.
Journalist Cheng Lei at a press conference after the incident.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
As Li and Albanese …