Amid the bustling cityscape of Melbourne, Cheng Lei is crafting a new chapter in her life after enduring a three-year imprisonment in China. Transitioning from the confines of a Beijing prison to the vibrant arts scene of Australia, Cheng has embraced diverse creative pursuits, including writing a memoir, engaging in theater, and even performing stand-up comedy.
Cheng’s experiences have illuminated the opaque realities of China’s prison system, revealing a personal narrative of resilience and the search for meaning amidst adversity. “I think when your life gets shattered and you lose so many things that used to define you, you do have a kind of freedom to reorganize your atoms and create a new you,” she expressed to The Associated Press while preparing for her play, “1154 Days.”
Exploring New Horizons Through Theater
Since her deportation from Beijing in October 2023, Cheng, an Australian citizen who immigrated as a child, has delved into theater, reflecting her adventurous spirit post-incarceration. Her journey began as a “bored accountant” before she ventured into a media career in China, culminating in her role as an anchor for China’s CCTV English channel.
In August 2020, Cheng’s career came to a halt when she was detained for allegedly leaking state secrets, specifically breaching an embargo on Chinese economic data. Convicted in October 2023, she was sentenced to nearly three years, a term she almost completed by the time of her sentencing.
Diplomatic Tensions and Allegations of Hostage Diplomacy
Cheng asserts that her arrest was part of a broader diplomatic standoff, following Australia’s call for a COVID-19 origins investigation. This, she believes, rendered her a victim of “hostage diplomacy.” Just days after Australia’s inquiry call in April 2020, China’s Ministry of State Security began probing Cheng.
In response to escalating tensions, Australia warned its citizens of potential arbitrary detention in China. By September 2020, all Australian journalists had exited China, with some interrogated regarding Cheng before their departure.
The pandemic further strained Australia-China relations, resulting in trade barriers and halted communications. However, a shift in Australian government leadership in May 2022 began to ease trade tensions.
Ongoing Advocacy for Fellow Detainees
Cheng’s plight, alongside that of fellow Australian Yang Hengjun, remains central to diplomatic dialogues. Yang faces a suspended death sentence for espionage charges, awaiting a potential life sentence. Cheng voices concern for detainees like Yang, committed to advocating against the Chinese justice system.
Her own experience with China’s Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) was marked by isolation and pressure, with only partial credit given toward her sentence for time served.
Advocating for the Voiceless
Cheng feels a duty to highlight the injustices faced by those unable to speak out. “I know people who are still going through RSDL, or unfair, unjust, arbitrary detention in China,” she stated, emphasizing her responsibility to share these stories.
The premiere of her play in Melbourne, where she resides with her children, aims to offer insights into her ordeal. The production explores themes of resilience, adaptation, and creative survival under duress.
Embracing Humor as a Coping Mechanism
In a bid to process her experiences, Cheng has also turned to stand-up comedy. Debuting in June 2024, she humorously reflects on her incarceration, asserting, “If you can’t joke about incarceration, then you have no sense of humor.”
Her comedic journey continued with performances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s RAW Competition, where she quipped about her wealth of material from her imprisonment in China.
