Government Unable to Say if Progress Made on Journalist Detained in Chinese Prison

Questions of release come after Beijing lift's barley trade tariffs

Australian journalist Cheng Lei is seen in Beijing, China, in this still image taken from undated video footage. Australia Global Alumni-Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Handout via REUTERS

The Albanese government has made no progress on getting detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei released from China despite increasing diplomatic engagements with Beijing.

Minister for Trade Don Farrell told ABC Radio National on Aug. 7 that it was “terrible” that Ms. Cheng and fellow Australian Yang Hengjun remain detained in China.