The Australian government and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said on Tuesday that the last two journalists working for the Australian media in China had left the country after demanding an interview with police.
According to ABC, ABC's Bill Birtles and
Australian Financial Review's Michael Smith arrived in Sydney on Monday night
after flying from Shanghai.
The two had recently taken refuge in
Australian diplomatic compounds.
According to ABC, Chinese police arrived
at Birtles' doorstep last week, demanding his release for questioning and
saying he was barred’ from leaving the country.
If Birtles spoke to police, Australian and
Chinese officials would have lifted the travel ban.
The journalists left Australia last week
after the revelation that Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen and business news
anchor for China's English-language state-run media channel CGTN had been,
detained.
Foreign Minister Maris Payne confirmed
that her government had provided consular assistance to help the two
journalists return to Australia.
"Our embassy in Beijing and the
consul general in Shanghai engaged with Chinese government officials to ensure
their well-being and return to Australia," he said.
He added that Australia's travel warning
about the risk of arbitrary detention in China was "appropriate and
unchanged."
Gwyn Morris, the new director of ABC, said
that Birtles was brought’ back to Australia on the advice of the Australian
government.
"This bureau is an important part of
ABC's international news gathering efforts and our goal is to get there as soon
as possible," Morris said.
He added: "The story of China, its
relationship with Australia and its role in our region and in the world is of
great importance to all Australians and we are on the ground to cover our
people. Want to keep
Relations between China and Australia have
already been strained by a ban on clandestine interference in Australian
politics and a ban on the supply of critical infrastructure to communications
giant Huawei. They have worsened since the Australian government called for an
independent inquiry into the coronavirus epidemic and its international
response.
Birtles told reporters at Sydney Airport
that his departure was a "storm and ... not a particularly good
experience."
"It's very disappointing to be
leaving in these circumstances, and it's very comforting to be back in a
country where real rule of law prevails," Birtles said.
Smith said he felt a "slight"
threat in China at the airport.
"It's great to be home, I'm so happy,
I can't say anything more at the moment, it's so comfortable to be home, I'm so
happy," Smith said.
"It was a complicated experience but
it's a pleasure to be here," he added.
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