China Sentences Journalist Dong Yuyu to Seven Years on Espionage Charges

A Chinese court has sentenced journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison on charges of espionage, a decision his family has condemned as a “grave injustice.” The verdict, issued on Friday by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, found Dong guilty based on his prior meetings with senior Japanese diplomats.

Dong, 62, a former editor at the Communist Party-affiliated Guangming Daily, was arrested in 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat. His family stated that the conviction was based on no concrete evidence and criticized the ruling as a reflection of the “bankruptcy of the justice system in China.”

According to the court’s judgement, the Japanese diplomats Dong met with, including then-ambassador Hideo Tarumi and current Shanghai-based diplomat Masaru Okada, were accused of being part of an “espionage organisation.”

His family’s statement argued that the ruling signals a chilling precedent, implying that any Chinese citizen could be viewed as a suspect merely for engaging with foreign diplomats. “This verdict is not just an injustice to Dong and his family but also to all free-thinking journalists and ordinary Chinese who believe in international dialogue,” the statement read.

The court proceedings on Friday were heavily guarded, with police cars stationed nearby, and journalists were asked to leave the area.

Dong, a graduate of Peking University’s law school, joined Guangming Daily in 1987 and eventually became deputy editor of its commentary section. Throughout his career, his writings advocated moderate reforms but avoided direct criticism of President Xi Jinping.

Under Chinese law, espionage convictions can lead to prison terms ranging from three to 10 years for less serious cases, while more severe cases can result in life imprisonment.