Former CGTN journalist Cheng Lei was wrongfully imprisoned in China for 1,154 days under national security laws following a text message about an economic report, according to statements and interviews detailed in Australian Story. Released in October 2023 and reunited with her children in Melbourne, Lei now campaigns against arbitrary detention alongside other former hostages while rebuilding her life as a reporter for Sky News Australia.
The Arrest and Interrogation at a Designated Location
Cheng Lei’s detention began on August 13, 2020, when she was called into her workplace at the Chinese state broadcaster CGTN under the impression she would discuss a new show proposal, according to verified accounts. Instead, officials informed her she was under investigation for supplying state secrets to overseas entities. For the first six months, Lei endured Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL), a form of detention where she was forced to sit still for 14 hours daily with two guards staring 30 centimeters from her face, according to her interview with Australian Story.
During RSDL interrogations, officials questioned her extensively about her work at the National People’s Congress earlier that year. According to the reporting, the central piece of evidence was an eight-word text message—“No growth target. GDP. 9 Min [million] jobs target”—sent to a Bloomberg employee regarding the Premier’s Work Report. Lei stated that she was unaware of an embargo and that authorities manufactured evidence afterward to justify the detention.
Life in Detention and Secret Defiance
Following her confession, Lei was transferred to a shared cell with three other inmates. To cope with the psychological toll, she created small comforts in secret, crafting roses and birthday cakes from toilet paper and steamed rolls, according to Australian Story. She also maintained mental autonomy through physical self-soothing, noting that she used erotic scenarios to bring herself pleasure as a quiet form of defiance against her captors.
Books served as an essential lifeline during her incarceration. Among them was The Uncaged Sky by Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian academic wrongfully imprisoned in Iran from 2018 to 2020. Reading the memoir allowed Lei and her cellmates to connect with the Farsi word for freedom, azadi, which became a catchcry for the group.
Did you know? Cheng Lei and Kylie Moore-Gilbert later formed the Australian Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Alliance with Sean Turnell and spearheaded a Senate inquiry.
The Continuing Impact on Family and Children
While Lei’s release in October 2023 brought a joyful reunion at Melbourne Airport with her children, Ava and Alex, the separation left deep emotional scars. When COVID-19 border closures trapped the children in Melbourne while Lei was in Beijing, they were placed in the care of their grandmother, Hua Lui, who struggles with a hoarding disorder, according to interviews with Australian Story.
Testifying before a Senate inquiry, Lei expressed deep appreciation for Australia’s diplomatic work securing her freedom, while noting that her children endured hardship due to a lack of proper support for her mother, who was unable to look after them adequately on her own. Today, as teenagers, her children are adjusting to life with their mother, though family dynamics remain permanently altered by the three-year absence.
Return to Journalism and Ongoing Pushback
When Chinese Premier Li Qiang traveled to Canberra in 2024, Sky News Australia assigned Lei, her new employer, to report on the proceedings. Chinese diplomats caused a stir by standing in front of Lei, blocking her from the television cameras, an incident that drew international attention, according to media reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Cheng Lei arrested in China?
According to the reporting, Cheng Lei was accused of breaking an embargo by seven minutes after texting an eight-word message about economic data to a Bloomberg employee, leading to accusations of supplying state secrets.
How long was Cheng Lei imprisoned?
Cheng Lei spent three years and two months in Chinese detention, including six months in Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL), before her release in October 2023.
What is Cheng Lei’s current role?
Following her return to Australia, Cheng Lei works for Sky News Australia and advocates against arbitrary detention.
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