Chinese Journalist Sentenced to Seven Years on Espionage Charges

Dong Yuyu, a veteran state media journalist, was convicted in a closed trial after being detained during a meeting with a Japanese diplomat in 2022.

Dong Yuyu, 62, was sentenced by a Beijing court to seven years in prison for alleged espionage, a charge his family and international rights groups have condemned as baseless.
Dong was arrested in February 2022 while dining with a Japanese diplomat, who was briefly detained and later released; the court labeled the diplomat as part of an 'espionage organization.'
The trial, held in July 2023, was conducted behind closed doors, with journalists and diplomats barred from attending the sentencing, raising concerns about transparency.
Dong's family stated that the verdict sets a dangerous precedent, potentially criminalizing ordinary interactions between Chinese citizens and foreign diplomats or professionals.
International organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, and governments such as the U.S. have called for Dong's immediate release, citing violations of press freedom and human rights.