A Chinese court has deferred its verdict in the trial of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who has been in detention for 19 months after being accused of providing state secrets to foreigners.
Ms Cheng, a former anchor for the Chinese government's English-language TV channel CGTN, faced a secretive closed court trial in Beijing on Tuesday, and was brought to court in a full heavy duty PPE suit.
The protective gear made it difficult to assess her demeanour, according to someone involved in the case.
The hearing lasted just three hours, with a verdict and sentence is expected at a later date.
Today's hearing was her first court appearance since she was detained in 2020.
Graham Fletcher, Australia's Ambassador to China, attempted to get into the court building to support Ms Cheng but was turned away.
"This is deeply concerning, unsatisfactory and regrettable," he said after being denied entry.
Australia had wanted two officials to be allowed in the courtroom, in line with a consular agreement between the two nations.
"We expect basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms," Mr Fletcher said.
Ahead of the trial, her lawyer told the ABC he couldn't discuss any details of what Ms Cheng is accused of doing or how she intends to plea.
But he said she is in good health, mentally in good spirits and has received books from prison authorities that friends have donated to her, including one for learning Spanish.
It's also unclear whether she'd been allowed to have contact with her 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son, who are being cared for by family in Melbourne.
"Her two children and elderly parents miss her immensely and sincerely hope to reunite with her as soon as possible," Ms Cheng's niece Louisa Wen said in a statement on behalf of the family.
The family also thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Beijing embassy for their ongoing support.
Cheng Lei's future hangs in the balance
Regardless of the accusations against her, Ms Cheng is expected to be found guilty because China has a conviction rate in criminal trials exceeding 99 per cent.
Of more importance is the sentence.
Her alleged crime is providing intelligence or state secrets to foreign organisations or individuals.
That usually carries a jail term of between five and 10 years, but there is no minimum sentence.
If deemed a relatively minor offence, she could be released soon after the sentence is announced, factoring in the 19 months she has already been behind bars.
The maximum sentence however for serious offences is life in jail.
Mystery shrouds case against Cheng Lei
The Chinese Government's extreme secrecy around the case has fuelled speculation on the reasons why the Ministry of State Security decided to target Ms Cheng.
She worked as one of the faces of Beijing's international news and propaganda channel CGTN at the time of her arrest, where she had held on-air roles as a business journalist since 2012.
During those years she regularly interviewed figures in China's business and finance circles and also sometimes worked as an emcee for events organised by the Australian embassy and the Australian Chamber of Commerce.
Ms Cheng's friend, Haze Fan, a Chinese national and journalist for US media outlet Bloomberg, has also been detained without trial in a national security investigation.
Authorities have not revealed if the two cases are related.
Several unusually detailed posts on Chinese social media public accounts appeared in the past year, accusing Ms Cheng of betraying the country of her birth without providing details of any particular wrongdoing, relying instead on innuendo.
Some analysts have speculated that her case is linked to the broader deterioration in diplomatic relations between Australia and China.
Ahead of the trial, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne again called for more transparency.
"We have asked also that Australian officials be permitted to attend Ms Cheng's hearing ... in line with China's obligations under the Australia-China bilateral consular agreement."
Last year in May, China's Government violated that agreement by barring Australian diplomats from attending the trial of Australian Yang Hengjun, who is also accused of national security-related crimes.
China's Government routinely bars foreign diplomats in cases it says involve national security, regardless of bilateral treaties that are meant to ensure access.
