China jails journalist for seven years on espionage charges

Fri Nov 29 09:02:17 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Chinese Journalist Sentenced to Seven Years on Spying Charges

**Beijing, China** – Former Guangming Daily editor Dong Yuyu has been sentenced to seven years in prison on espionage charges, sparking outrage from his family and international press freedom advocates. The Beijing No 2 Intermediate People’s Court convicted the 62-year-old on Friday, based on meetings with Japanese diplomats, including then-ambassador Hideo Tarumi and current Shanghai-based chief diplomat Masaru Okada, who were identified by the court as agents of an “espionage organization.”

Dong’s family denounced the verdict as a “grave injustice,” citing a lack of evidence. They argue the conviction sets a chilling precedent, implying that any contact with foreign diplomats could be construed as espionage. Police presence was heavy at the courthouse, with journalists being asked to leave the area.

The arrest occurred in 2022 during a lunch meeting with a Japanese diplomat, who was also briefly detained but later released. At the time, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the diplomat engaged in activities “inconsistent with their capacity” in China.

Dong, a respected journalist who held a Harvard Nieman Fellowship and contributed to publications like The New York Times and The Financial Times, had a career marked by advocating moderate reforms within the confines of the Chinese political system. His articles avoided direct criticism of President Xi Jinping.

The sentence has drawn international condemnation. Over 700 journalists, academics, and NGO workers have signed an online petition demanding his release. The Committee to Protect Journalists and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard have both called for the reversal of the verdict, highlighting the unjust nature of the proceedings and the importance of press freedom in China. They described Dong as a talented and respected journalist. Under Chinese law, espionage convictions carry sentences ranging from three to ten years, or even life imprisonment in severe cases.