(CNA Taipei, July 2) Dong Yuyu, deputy director of the commentary department of the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece "Guangming Daily," has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for "espionage." Her son, Dong Yifu, stated that Dong Yuyu applied for medical parole due to a lung tumor and suspected cancer, but her request was denied by the prison authorities.

Dong Yuyu, 64, was arrested in 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. The Japanese diplomat was also detained but released hours later. Dong Yuyu has been in custody since then, was charged with espionage in April 2023, and on November 29, 2024, was sentenced to 7 years in the first trial.

According to The New York Times, Dong Yifu, Dong Yuyu's son, said that Dong Yuyu suffers from arrhythmia, and prison doctors discovered a lung tumor, though its malignancy is unknown. Dong Yuyu believes that the Beijing prison hospital lacks adequate equipment and specialists to remove the tumor and determine if it is malignant, hence she applied for medical parole.

The prison authorities argued that they could arrange for professional doctors from outside the prison to visit the prison hospital. However, Dong Yuyu still believes the prison hospital's equipment is insufficient and that the doctors arranged by the prison might lack experience. Nevertheless, the prison authorities insisted on their proposed solution and rejected Dong Yuyu's request for medical parole.

The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over Dong Yuyu's arrest and sentencing, and many international human rights organizations and media freedom organizations have also voiced their support. (Editor: Zhu Jianling / Lu Jiarong) 1150702

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: 政治