Australian TV host set to stand trial in China for allegedly supplying state secrets overseas

In 2021, China released Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who had been held for three years on espionage charges. But Australia is heading into a national election, and while a change in government would unlikely see a policy shift on China, it could help clear the air, Collinson said. “That might pave the way for — if not a reset — a blunting of this very sharp friction between the two countries.”It’s not clear what, if any, a reset of bilateral relations would mean for Cheng, who remains isolated from her support networks and separated from her family.”She has two young kids who she hasn’t seen in years now,” Collinson said. “It’s all well and good to talk at a high level about political tensions and the ramifications thereof, but in terms of its spillover, there are some very real consequences and heavy penalties that normal people have to pay.”