Chinese Journalist Dong Yuyu, 62, Former Harvard Fellow, Gets Seven Years for Espionage; U.S. Condemns Verdict

Nov 29, 2024, 12:53 PM

Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu, 62, a veteran editor and columnist at the Guangming Daily and a former visiting fellow at Harvard University, was sentenced to seven years in prison on espionage charges by a Beijing court on Friday. He was detained in February 2022 after meeting with a Japanese diplomat. His family has called the verdict a grave injustice and stated they will support his appeal, asserting that it marks the bankruptcy of the justice system in China. Dong's writings were mildly critical of President Xi Jinping, and his case is seen as a warning to Chinese citizens not to engage with foreigners, including diplomats, academics, and journalists from Japan and the United States. The U.S. State Department condemned the sentencing, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. Press freedom advocates have criticized the opaque and politicized nature of his detention and trial, expressing concern over the treatment of journalists in China.