The son of Dong Yuyu, a Chinese journalist convicted for espionage, made an appeal for his father’s release this past Monday. During an event at the National Press Club, Dong Yuyu’s son, Dong Yifu, criticized the conviction as an effort by the Chinese government to suppress press freedom. He stressed that his father did not participate in espionage during interactions with diplomats, questioning the legitimacy of the accusations and sentencing.
Dong Yufu has engaged Japanese authorities in Washington, seeking their support in the matter, pointing out issues such as inadequate food and nutrition in the detention center where his father is held. Several advocacy groups, including PEN International, have shown their support for Dong Yuyu, highlighting concerns about the lack of justice and transparency in his trial. The National Press Club and other organizations have also voiced their opposition to the verdict. In particular, the National Press Club issued a statement, and its leadership signed a letter calling on Chinese authorities to release him.
Dong’s case has attracted international attention. Reporters Without Borders has deemed China the “world’s largest prison for journalists.” The US State Department has also demanded Dong Yuyu’s “immediate and unconditional release.”
Dong Yuyu was arrested in February 2022 while having a meal with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. Since then, he has been detained at a facility with no contact with his family. In November 2024, the Beijing Number 2 Intermediate People’s Court sentenced him to seven years in prison. However, key procedural transparency, such as reviewing evidence and delivering a copy of the court verdict to his legal representatives, was reportedly lacking. Before his arrest, Yuyu had been a journalist and editor at the Communist Party’s Guangming Daily and a Nieman fellow at Harvard University.
For further details, see the full article on JURIST – News.