Former TV anchor Cheng Lei recounts life after three-year Chinese detention

Cheng Lei, a former CGTN anchor, was held for 1,154 days under China’s Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location after being accused of supplying state secrets. Released in October 2023, she has resumed work with one outlet Australia, staged a play titled 1,154 Days, and is preparing a Mandarin memoir. Lei explains that the psychological scars persist, particularly in her bond with her children, who missed crucial years of her presence.

She notes that Chinese authorities have stigmatized her within the diaspora, and that diplomatic pressure from Australia contributed to her freedom. Lei now advocates for better coordination between Australian federal and state agencies to aid families of wrongfully detained citizens. Her story underscores the personal toll of China’s opaque security apparatus and the ongoing need for international vigilance.