China says Australian television anchor probed for security violation

Cheng Lei -- an Australian citizen employed by China's state broadcaster CGTN before her detention last month was "suspected of carrying out criminal activities endangering China's national security"

China confirmed that an Australian television anchor was being held over suspected state security violations hours after the last two correspondents from the country’s media outlets fled, highlighting the mounting political pressures on Beijing’s foreign press corps.
 

Cheng Lei -- an Australian citizen employed by China’s English-language state broadcaster CGTN before her detention last month -- was “suspected of carrying out criminal activities endangering China’s national security,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters Tuesday in Beijing. The allegations, which give authorities broad powers to hold suspects for months without charge or access to a lawyer, are among the most