China officially arrests Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei

Canberra calls for 'basic standards of justice' for anchorwoman

Cheng Lei, a Chinese-born Australian journalist for CGTN, the international branch of China Central Television, attends a public event in Beijing on Aug. 12. Cheng has been formally arrested in China on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, Australia's foreign minister says. © AP

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

February 8, 2021 16:26 JST

SHANGHAI -- China formally arrested Cheng Lei on Friday, six months after the China-born Australian was detained in Beijing.

Cheng, who worked for the Chinese state-run international broadcaster CGTN, was arrested on suspicion of espionage, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne revealed in a statement on Monday after being notified by Chinese authorities.