Latest news with #DongYuyu
Malaysian Reserve
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
National Press Club: Update on Appeal In Case of Journalist Dong Yuyu
WASHINGTON, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following is an update on the case of Chinese Journalist Dong Yuyu, provided by his family. 'After being sentenced to seven years in prison for espionage at the trial level in November, Dong has appealed his wrongful verdict to the Beijing High Court. The Beijing High Court heard his appeal on March 31, with a deadline for a decision in early May. In early May, however, the Court asked the procuratorate for additional evidence in Dong's case. Chinese law gives the procuratorate one month to complete this step. However, it only took one week for the procuratorate to respond to the court with no additional evidence. This move allowed the Beijing High Court four additional months to render a decision on appeal. Now the deadline is September 13, though the Beijing High Court can find ways to extend it. All these procedures clearly show that the case against Dong is completely meritless. If it had merit, then the Beijing High Court would have had no trouble rendering a decision upholding his conviction, just like the vast majority of appeals cases in China. It is also clear that the case is being decided not according to the law, but rather based on politics. This is why we urge all stakeholders involved to keep advocating for Dong. We urge press organizations throughout the world to keep demanding Dong's immediate release. We urge the Japanese government to directly raise the case with the Chinese government as their diplomats were directly and wrongly accused of espionage in this case as well. In vigorously defending Japanese integrity, they help ensure the future safety of their own diplomats. Finally, we urge the United States government to keep pressing China for Dong's immediate release and to include his case in the human rights portfolio accompanying the much anticipated bilateral later this year. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 or wmccarren@ for the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club
Washington Post
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Son of Chinese journalist jailed for espionage calls for his father's release
WASHINGTON — The son of a Chinese journalist accused of espionage called for his father's release from a seven-year prison sentence in the high-profile case that signaled Beijing's tighten grip on journalism. Dong Yuyu, then a senior editor at a Communist Party-run newspaper that was increasingly out of step with the party's hardening line, was arrested in February 2022 as he was having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing.
Euronews
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Son of Chinese journalist jailed on espionage charges calls for his release
The son of a Chinese journalist sentenced to seven years in jail on espionage charges has called for his father's release, urging authorities to overturn a conviction that has raised alarm over Beijing's increasing crackdown on press freedom. Dong Yuyu, a former senior editor at the Communist Party-affiliated Guangming Daily, was detained in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. His son, Dong Yifu, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday, urged Japanese authorities to support his father's appeal by proving that his diplomatic meetings had no connection to espionage. 'It is a press freedom issue. It is a human rights issue. It has very little to do with national security or espionage,' he said. The elder Dong's arrest, just two months before his planned retirement, shocked journalists and diplomats in China, where it is common for reporters to maintain contact with foreign officials as part of their work. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced him in November 2023 after prosecutors presented eight meetings with Japanese diplomats as evidence against him, his family says. Dong Yuyu was known for advocating constitutional democracy, political reform, and government accountability in his articles — topics that were once open for discussion in party-affiliated media but have since fallen out of favour. He was previously a Nieman fellow at Harvard University and later held academic positions at Keio University and Hokkaido University in Japan before returning to China. Despite his imprisonment, Dong's son says he remains in good health, maintaining his fitness with daily exercise. However, he is only allowed a few hours of sunlight per year and has not been permitted to see his wife. His lawyer, who visits monthly, delivers handwritten letters from his wife, and the elder Dong has prepared a 45-page appeal document contesting his conviction. The conviction has drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates. Reporters Without Borders has labelled China 'the world's largest prison for journalists', reporting that more than 100 are detained. Last Friday, the US State Department called for Dong's immediate and unconditional release, while former US Ambassador Nicholas Burns previously condemned the verdict as unjust on X.
The Hill
25-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Son of Chinese journalist jailed for espionage calls for his father's release
WASHINGTON (AP) — The son of a Chinese journalist accused of espionage called for his father's release from a seven-year prison sentence in the high-profile case that signaled Beijing's tighten grip on journalism. Dong Yuyu, then a senior editor at a Communist Party-run newspaper that was increasingly out of step with the party's hardening line, was arrested in February 2022 as he was having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. Dong Yifu said at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday that his father is planning to appeal his convictions. He urged Japanese authorities to help show that the senior Dong's meetings with Japanese diplomats had nothing to do with espionage. 'It is a press freedom issue. It is a human rights issue. It has very little to do with national security or espionage,' said the younger Dong. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dong Yuyu previously was the deputy head of the commentary department at the Guangming Daily, a newspaper once considered more liberal than other party outlets. Dong wrote articles arguing for constitutional democracy, political reform and official accountability — views that were once discussed openly in party outlets but are now out of favor. He was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University from 2006 to 2007 and became a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010. He later worked as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan before returning to China. Dong's arrest, which came just two months before he planned to retire from Guangming Daily, shocked journalists and diplomats across China. It is common for journalists to maintain contact with diplomats as part of their newsgathering. The younger Dong says his mother later heard in court that eight meetings with Japanese diplomats were listed as evidence against his father. Last November, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dong to seven years in prison for espionage, his family previously said. Then-U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns wrote on X at the time that the verdict was unjust. Dong is in good health and has tried to stay fit in prison by doing 200 pushups and 200 leg raises a day, his son said, but he gets just a few hours of sunlight per year and has not been allowed to see his wife. Dong's lawyer is able to meet the journalist once a month and bring him his wife's handwritten letters, the younger Dong added, and his father prepared a 45-page handwritten document for the appeal. Last Friday, the U.S. State Department called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dong in a post on X. Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, also criticized China's press freedom situation in a statement, saying the country is 'the world's largest prison for journalists' with more than 100 currently detained. The organization said Beijing frequently charges journalists with espionage to silence them, as well overly broad charges such as subversion and 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Son of Chinese journalist jailed for espionage calls for his father's release
WASHINGTON (AP) — The son of a Chinese journalist accused of espionage called for his father's release from a seven-year prison sentence in the high-profile case that signaled Beijing's tighten grip on journalism. Dong Yuyu, then a senior editor at a Communist Party-run newspaper that was increasingly out of step with the party's hardening line, was arrested in February 2022 as he was having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. Dong Yifu said at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday that his father is planning to appeal his convictions. He urged Japanese authorities to help show that the senior Dong's meetings with Japanese diplomats had nothing to do with espionage. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'It is a press freedom issue. It is a human rights issue. It has very little to do with national security or espionage," said the younger Dong. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dong Yuyu previously was the deputy head of the commentary department at the Guangming Daily, a newspaper once considered more liberal than other party outlets. Dong wrote articles arguing for constitutional democracy, political reform and official accountability — views that were once discussed openly in party outlets but are now out of favor. He was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University from 2006 to 2007 and became a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010. He later worked as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan before returning to China. Dong's arrest, which came just two months before he planned to retire from Guangming Daily, shocked journalists and diplomats across China. It is common for journalists to maintain contact with diplomats as part of their newsgathering. The younger Dong says his mother later heard in court that eight meetings with Japanese diplomats were listed as evidence against his father. Last November, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dong to seven years in prison for espionage, his family previously said. Then-U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns wrote on X at the time that the verdict was unjust. Dong is in good health and has tried to stay fit in prison by doing 200 pushups and 200 leg raises a day, his son said, but he gets just a few hours of sunlight per year and has not been allowed to see his wife. Dong's lawyer is able to meet the journalist once a month and bring him his wife's handwritten letters, the younger Dong added, and his father prepared a 45-page handwritten document for the appeal. Last Friday, the U.S. State Department called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dong in a post on X. Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, also criticized China's press freedom situation in a statement, saying the country is 'the world's largest prison for journalists' with more than 100 currently detained. The organization said Beijing frequently charges journalists with espionage to silence them, as well overly broad charges such as subversion and 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble.'
