The partner of an Australian journalist detained in China says authorities have cut her access to consular officials and tightened her food supply in jail.
Cheng Lei, an anchor for the Chinese government's English TV channel CGTN, has been jailed for close to two years in Beijing, accused of leaking state secrets.
She has been detained since August 2020 and was put on trial behind closed doors in March, but a verdict has been deferred.
Her partner, Nick Coyle, the outgoing head of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, told Sky News authorities claimed COVID was the reason they had to cut her monthly consular calls and supply of fresh food.
"Now, there's been no food restrictions in Beijing ... so the idea that, you know, the detention centre couldn't get adequate food — again, it's not acceptable," he said.
He said the last consular virtual visit was in April, and "as far as we know, the visits are off indefinitely".
"She's not had one phone call with family, with her children. Nothing," he said.
"These monthly consular visits have literally been what's kept her going for 20 months ... that's your only window to the outside world is this 30 minutes."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told the ABC embassy staff in Beijing had been able to visit Ms Cheng monthly up until last month.
"DFAT officials have been unable to access Australian prisoners in Beijing during May, due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China," a spokesperson said.
"Our last consular visit with Ms Cheng was on 20 April 2022. We have requested a consular access visit in June.
'Am I overreacting?'
Mr Coyle recounted the moments he first realised Ms Cheng was missing in his interview with Sky News.
He spoke to her the day before his birthday, expecting to meet up with her for celebratory drinks.
When he didn't hear from her, he didn't panic at first, thinking she may have been caught up with TV deadlines.
But he then received calls from friends who were worried and hadn't heard from her in 24 hours.
"[I] went into the apartment, and everything kind of looked normal. Until I could see that all the electronic devices, computers, all those sorts of things were gone," he said.
"There's the 'oh s***' moment of what does this mean? But then the practical side kicks in — right, what do we do?"
He spoke to a friend at the embassy.
"Do you think I'm overreacting?" he asked.
His contact said he wasn't overreacting. Later, the embassy told him that she had been detained by the Ministry of State Security.
"That's probably when I was like, yeah, this this is not good. I knew the system well enough to know that that's a pretty difficult one."
Ms Cheng's detention came amid deteriorating relations between Australia and China, and some human rights groups feared her case could be an example of "hostage diplomacy" by Beijing.
Mr Coyle said Ms Cheng was a business reporter and was not focused on political issues between Australia and China.
Mr Coyle said she was one of the strongest people he knew, but he was worried about health issues she was facing in detention.
Mr Coyle is not the father of Ms Cheng's two children, who live in Australia.
"That's just even more reason why she needs to be back. That's the thing — it's not about me. It's about her and her kids," he said.
"I can't imagine what it would be like for them ... they're dealing with things as well as they can deal with them. I think it's tough.
"It's not like they're too young to understand. They absolutely understand. And it's awful.
"I really feel for her mum and dad. …[they] have gone through hell as well."
ABC
