Two Australian journalists working in China have left the country, after they were questioned by police and forced to seek refuge in Australian diplomatic missions in Beijing and Shanghai in a tense, five-day standoff between the two countries.
The diplomatic standoff began when the two men — Bill Birtles, Beijing correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , and Mike Smith, Shanghai correspondent for the Australian Financial Review — were told they were"persons of interest in an investigation" into Cheng Lei, an Australian anchor for state broadcaster CGTN, according to the AFR.
Australian foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said in a statement that the government"provided consular support to two Australian journalists in China to assist their return to Australia." Birtles said on the ABC Tuesday that it was"very disappointing to have to leave under those circumstances.""It's a relief to be back in a country with genuine rule of law," he added."This was a whirlwind and not particularly good experience.
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