Australian journalist Cheng Lei faces trial in Beijing court

Cheng, who was a television anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN before being detained in August 2020, was formally arrested a year ago on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas

Australian journalist Cheng Lei was due to face trial in a Beijing court on Thursday on state secrets charges after more than 19 months in detention.

Ms. Cheng, who was a television anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN before being detained in August 2020, was formally arrested a year ago on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas.

Ms. Cheng’s family members have said they are convinced she is innocent.

Ms. Cheng will be tried at the Beijing No.2 People’s Intermediate Court on Thursday morning, two sources told Reuters last week. No information on her case could be found on the court’s website, which experts said is not uncommon for cases involving state secrets charges.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Saturday that her Ministry had asked Chinese officials that Australian officials be allowed to attend Cheng’s hearing in line with a consular agreement between the two nations.

“We expect basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms,” her statement read.

Ms. Payne said Australian officials have had regular visits with Ms. Cheng, most recently on March 21.