In a significant blow to press freedom, Dong Yuyu, a noted journalist previously with the Guangming Daily, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for alleged espionage activities, provoking international condemnation and raising concerns over China's treatment of dissenting voices.
China Jails Journalist Dong Yuyu for Seven Years on Espionage Charges
China Jails Journalist Dong Yuyu for Seven Years on Espionage Charges
Former Guangming Daily editor sentenced after controversial trial amid international scrutiny.
In an alarming development highlighting the ongoing repression of journalists in China, Dong Yuyu, a distinguished former state media journalist, was sentenced on Friday to a seven-year prison term for espionage. Family members confirmed the sentence to the BBC, revealing that Dong, 62, has been in custody since his arrest in February 2022.
Dong was apprehended during a lunch meeting with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing, just a day after the conclusion of the Winter Olympics held in the Chinese capital. He was a senior staff member at Guangming Daily, one of the five main newspapers affiliated with the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
During his trial, Dong reportedly faced severe restrictions; his family stated he was barred from seeing them, and a final verdict was only announced months later. Rights advocates have labeled the proceedings as unjust, reaching out for his immediate release. "This verdict is a serious injustice, not only to Dong and his family but also to every Chinese journalist advocating for reform," they stated.
Adding to the controversy, the court named two Japanese diplomats as part of an alleged "espionage organization," referring to the Japanese embassy, which his family decried as an outrageous label. There was a notable security presence during Dong's court hearing, with journalists reportedly forbidden from entering the courtroom.
Dong has a storied career marked by activism; after graduating from Peking University's law school in 1987, he became involved in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and was later imprisoned but retained his position at Guangming Daily. His advocacy for reform and free speech has drawn attention internationally, having also contributed articles to prominent platforms like The New York Times.
A Nieman fellow at Harvard University in 2007, Dong has also held academic positions across several Japanese universities, making him a well-respected figure within liberal circles in Asia and the United States. The verdict against him has drawn sharp criticism from global rights groups, with calls for the Chinese government to uphold the freedom and safety of journalists within its borders.
Dong was apprehended during a lunch meeting with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing, just a day after the conclusion of the Winter Olympics held in the Chinese capital. He was a senior staff member at Guangming Daily, one of the five main newspapers affiliated with the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
During his trial, Dong reportedly faced severe restrictions; his family stated he was barred from seeing them, and a final verdict was only announced months later. Rights advocates have labeled the proceedings as unjust, reaching out for his immediate release. "This verdict is a serious injustice, not only to Dong and his family but also to every Chinese journalist advocating for reform," they stated.
Adding to the controversy, the court named two Japanese diplomats as part of an alleged "espionage organization," referring to the Japanese embassy, which his family decried as an outrageous label. There was a notable security presence during Dong's court hearing, with journalists reportedly forbidden from entering the courtroom.
Dong has a storied career marked by activism; after graduating from Peking University's law school in 1987, he became involved in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and was later imprisoned but retained his position at Guangming Daily. His advocacy for reform and free speech has drawn attention internationally, having also contributed articles to prominent platforms like The New York Times.
A Nieman fellow at Harvard University in 2007, Dong has also held academic positions across several Japanese universities, making him a well-respected figure within liberal circles in Asia and the United States. The verdict against him has drawn sharp criticism from global rights groups, with calls for the Chinese government to uphold the freedom and safety of journalists within its borders.
