Bizarre scenes as Chinese officials block journalist
The antics of Chinese officials who attempted to block the view of formerly detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei at a media event have served as a reminder of Beijing's chequered relationship with press freedom.
Ms Cheng, who now works as a journalist for Sky News after serving three years in a Chinese jail, was at a signing ceremony between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Parliament House on Monday.
She was attending as a member of the working press.
As proceedings were due to begin, a Chinese embassy official moved in front of Ms Cheng, obstructing her view and attempting to stop her being filmed by the cameras.
After the official ignored requests to move from Ms Cheng's eye-line, a fellow journalist offered the former Chinese state television anchor to swap seats and she was shepherded away by Australian officials.
"I ended up feeling like an endangered species, like a panda, being protected by these Australian government officials," Ms Cheng told Sky News.
Ms Cheng speculated that the officials were trying to block her from appearing in the same shot of Chinese ministers also in attendance.
"The only audience that matters is the domestic audience, and maybe an audience of one, so how it looks to the rest doesn't matter," she said, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The farcical scene played out before a backdrop of talks of "mutual respect" between the two nations.
Mr Albanese was later asked about the incident but he claimed not to have witnessed it.
"I saw Cheng Lei and we smiled at each other during the event," he said.
"It's important that people be allowed to participate fully and that's what should happen in this building or anywhere else in Australia."
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham was more forceful.
"It's counterproductive. It's a reminder we have very different systems, very different values," he told Sky News.
"And clearly the way in which our freedoms and free media and free press operate is a stark contrast."
While Ms Cheng is enjoying her new-found freedom, another Australian continues to languish in a Chinese jail.
Writer Yang Hengjun was handed a suspended death sentence on national security charges in February and supporters have expressed concerns that his health is deteriorating.
Mr Albanese said he raised Dr Yang's case with Premier Li and reiterated Australia's opposition to capital punishment.
The Chinese embassy has been contacted for comment.
