Questioning of journalists 'normal law enforcement': China
Two Australian foreign correspondents were taken out of China with the help of Australian consular officials after being questioned by China's Ministry of State Security, their employers said on Tuesday (September 8).
The two journalists - the ABC's Bill Birtles and the AFR's Michael Smith - had been banned from leaving China until they answered questions about detained Australian citizen and television anchor Cheng Lei, the media companies reported.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also said at a daily press conference in Beijing that China hopes the Australian side can work with China to enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation.
An Australian journalist for Chinese state television, Cheng Lei, a high-profile business anchor on CGTN, was detained last month. The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday she was suspected of carrying out illegal activities that endanger the country's security.
