Former television anchor and journalist Cheng Lei is rebuilding her life after spending nearly three years imprisoned in China, transforming her painful experience into a memoir, theatrical production, and renewed media career in Australia.
Now based in Melbourne, the 50-year-old journalist has spoken publicly about the psychological and physical hardships she endured while detained in Beijing. Through her recently released memoir and upcoming stage play titled 1154 Days, Cheng aims to expose the realities of China’s secretive detention system while sharing a message of resilience and recovery.
According to Cheng, surviving imprisonment forced her to redefine her identity and outlook on life.
She explained that losing the career and lifestyle she once valued gave her the opportunity to rebuild herself with a stronger sense of purpose, courage, and appreciation for freedom.
From Chinese State Television to Prison Cell
Born in China and raised in Australia after immigrating with her family at age 10, Cheng eventually built a successful career in bilingual journalism across Asia. Before her arrest, she worked as an anchor for the business news program “Global Business” on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Her career took a dramatic turn in August 2020 when Chinese authorities accused her of illegally sharing state secrets with foreign organizations. Cheng was detained by officials from China’s State Security Bureau and taken to an undisclosed location.
A Beijing court later sentenced her in 2023 to two years and 11 months in prison. By the time the ruling was announced, she had already spent most of the sentence in detention.
In her memoir, Cheng claimed the case stemmed from an accidental breach of a media embargo involving remarks from former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang regarding China’s economic outlook during the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated she had no knowledge of the embargo at the time.
Diplomatic Tensions Between Australia and China
Cheng believes her detention was linked to worsening diplomatic tensions between China and Australia during the pandemic period. Relations deteriorated significantly after Australia publicly supported an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in 2020.
Shortly afterward, Australian authorities warned citizens about the possibility of arbitrary detention in China. Several Australian journalists subsequently left the country amid growing concerns over safety and diplomatic pressure.
The political dispute also affected trade relations, with China imposing restrictions on multiple Australian exports, including wine, barley, coal, and seafood products.
Harsh Conditions Inside China’s Detention System
One of the most difficult phases of Cheng’s imprisonment involved being held under China’s “Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location” system, commonly known as RSDL.
She described the experience as intensely isolating, with detainees subjected to continuous surveillance, restricted movement, prolonged silence, and psychological pressure designed to force confessions.
Cheng said many individuals remain trapped in similar conditions without international attention or public support. She now considers it her responsibility to speak on behalf of prisoners, activists, and dissidents who cannot safely tell their own stories.
New Life in Australia
Since returning to Australia in late 2023, Cheng has resumed work in journalism as a television presenter and newspaper columnist. She has also experimented with stand-up comedy and theater as part of her recovery process.
Her stage production 1154 Days is scheduled to premiere in Melbourne on May 28. The play explores her imprisonment, emotional struggles, and eventual return to freedom.
Cheng currently lives in Melbourne with her two teenage children, who remained in Australia during the pandemic when China closed its borders shortly before her detention.
The journalist says her creative projects are not only about recounting personal trauma but also about ensuring the experiences of detainees inside China’s justice system are not forgotten.
