Former Chinese Journalist Sentenced to Seven Years for Espionage

Dong Yuyu, a 62-year-old ex-journalist previously with Guangming Daily, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly engaging in espionage activities with foreign diplomats. His arrest has drawn criticism from rights groups, family members, and fellow journalists, who view the verdict as a significant blow to press freedom in China.

A former journalist with close ties to international academic circles, Dong Yuyu, 62, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for charges of espionage, as confirmed by his family on Friday. His detention, which began in 2022, has drawn attention to the plight of intellectuals advocating for reform in China, raising concerns from human rights organizations.

Dong was arrested in February 2022 while dining with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing, just after the conclusion of the Winter Olympics. At the time of his arrest, he was a senior staff member at Guangming Daily, one of the five major publications affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. His detainment sparked controversies surrounding the implications of labeling foreign diplomatic interactions as espionage, especially since multiple diplomats connected to the Japanese embassy were named during his trial.

His family expressed dismay at the court's decision to categorize an embassy as an “espionage organization,” stating, "This verdict is a grave injustice not only to Yuyu and his family but also to every freethinking Chinese journalist committed to engaging with the world.” Reports indicate that during the sentencing at a heavily guarded Beijing court, journalists were barred from attendance, emphasizing a troubling atmosphere for press freedoms in the region.

Rights advocates have urged the Chinese government to overturn the unjust verdict against Dong. Beh Lih Yi, an official from the Committee to Protect Journalists, stressed the necessity of protecting journalists' rights in China and called for Dong's immediate release to reunite with his family.

Dong's history as a journalist dates back to his graduation from Peking University in 1987, after which he joined Guangming Daily. His commitment to reform was evident as he participated in the Tiananmen Square protests, leading to previous hardships during his career, yet he persevered to become an influential voice within the newspaper. He has also served internationally as a Nieman fellow at Harvard and contributed articles to major publications, including the New York Times, demonstrating his dedication to journalism despite the risks involved.