Australia rethinks ‘quiet diplomacy’ tactic as Cheng Lei marks 1,000 days in Chinese detention

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has called for journalist Cheng Lei (pictured) to be reunited with her children, saying the government shares ‘the deep concerns of her family and friends about the ongoing delays in her case’. Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP

The Australian government is rethinking how to help citizens embroiled in “hostage diplomacy” as it marks the 1,000th day of the journalist Cheng Lei’s detention in China.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, called for Cheng to be reunited with her children, saying the government shared “the deep concerns of her family and friends about the ongoing delays in her case”.