Son of Imprisoned Journalist Calls Dong Yuyu’s Espionage Conviction “Purely Political”

september 30, 2025 – China – 

Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu, 63, is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted of espionage in November 2024. His son, Dong Yifu, insists the case is not about legitimate criminal wrongdoing but rather a politically motivated measure to suppress a dissenting voice.

Dong was initially detained in February 2022 during a lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing—an event that triggered the subsequent espionage charges. Over three years later, his appeal remains unresolved, and the delay has raised concerns from his family and press-freedom advocates alike.

In an interview with CPJ, Yifu criticized the prosecution for relying on vague allegations rather than solid evidence. He said prosecutors had even requested extra time to submit new material but failed to do so—leading him to argue that the case lacks legal merit and effectively operates as a political show trial.

Yifu also framed his father’s career and personal associations as entirely legitimate: Dong had long engaged in cross-cultural and diplomatic exchanges, including friendships or professional contacts with foreign diplomats and scholars. His writing often addressed sensitive topics such as governance reform, illegal land expropriation, labor rights, and environmental protection—areas that might attract official scrutiny in China’s tightening media environment.

Beyond his son’s defense, Dong’s case has attracted condemnation from media rights groups. Many see it as symptomatic of China’s increasing use of national security and espionage statutes to silence critical journalism.

The case also has broader diplomatic implications. Yifu urged Japan and other international actors to press for transparency and accountability, warning that Dong’s conviction sends a chilling message: interactions with foreign contacts could themselves be construed as espionage.

Meanwhile, the appeals court has repeatedly postponed a final decision, extending judicial deadlines. Yifu says this pattern of delay reflects the fact that the government lacks a credible legal justification but is determined to prolong control over Dong’s fate.

In recognition of his plight, CPJ plans to present Dong Yuyu with a 2025 International Press Freedom Award in New York

Reference – 

Son of jailed Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu says espionage conviction ‘purely political’