China’s detention of Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei places further strain on troubled relationship

Ties have soured since Australia banned Huawei from its 5G networks and called for an independent probe into origins of coronavirus pandemic

China has accused Australia of becoming a ‘loudspeaker for interests in Washington’, threatening diplomatic and economic ties in response

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CGTN anchor Cheng Lei has been held since at least August 14 without charge and with no reason given for her detention. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:45am, 2 Sep 2020Updated: 11:04am, 2 Sep 2020

China-Australia relations looked bad enough when they were sparring over wine, beef and Huawei’s 5G technology. Now the detention of a high-profile television journalist risks leading to a dangerous new phase.

Australia said it has not been told why Chinese-born Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen who worked for eight years as an anchor at a government-run English-language news channel, was taken in two weeks ago. China also has not revealed details about the case: Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday she had no information while also poking Australia.

“We value China-Australia relations, but development of bilateral ties needs both sides to work together,” Hua said. “China always abides by law. We’ll not behave like some other country – under pressure of its ally – to conduct illegal activities under the guise of law.”

More than anything, the episode shows how there is no clear off-ramp to a relationship that has only worsened since Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government called in April for independent investigators be allowed into Wuhan’s wet markets to probe for the source of the coronavirus pandemic. Things could get worse in the coming weeks, as Australia introduces a bill that would stop states from participating in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.

For Australia, the leadership appears willing to further jeopardise some aspects of its crucial trading relationship with China. As the developed world’s most China-dependent economy, it potentially has a lot to lose but is betting key exports such as iron ore and coal won’t be targeted.

“As long as Australia refuses to comply with Beijing’s directives and be compliant, it can expect its citizens in China to be detained without charges, due process or speedy resolution,” said John Blaxland, a former intelligence officer and a professor at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre at Australian National University. “But it now seems to be aware that it needs to stare it down because a lot of it is probably just political posturing aimed at appeasing a domestic audience.”

China has been clear in linking Australia’s call for a virus investigation to actions by the Trump administration, which has hit Beijing on everything from data security regarding popular apps TikTok and WeChat to human-rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. As recently as last week, a top Chinese diplomat based in Canberra said his nation had felt “singled out” by Australia’s push for a virus probe, adding “we don’t think it is fair”.

Gao Zhikai, a former diplomat and translator for late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, called Australia a “loudspeaker for interests in Washington” while saying relations will only get worse if it doesn’t “exercise its own independence of mind”. He said China could withdraw its ambassador from Australia or even completely cut off all trade. China in recent months has placed tariffs on Australian barley, banned some meat products and launched an anti-dumping probe on its wine exports. Late Tuesday, it halted barley imports from Australia’s biggest grain shipping company.