Aussie newswoman for CCTV held in detention center

A Chinese-born Australian journalist for CGTN, the English-language channel of China Central Television, has been detained in the mainland, Australia's government said yesterday.

Australian officials had a consular visit with Cheng Lei at a detention facility via video link on Thursday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.

Cheng is an anchor for the BizAsia program. She was born in China and worked in finance in Australia before starting a career in journalism with CCTV in Beijing in 2003.

Meanwhile, Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil will "pay a heavy price" for making an official trip to Taiwan, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday, prompting Prague to summon Beijing's ambassador to ask what was meant by that threat.

Vystrcil said he did not seek confrontation by landing in Taipei on Sunday to promote business links.