Beijing, Jan 2 (NationPress) The son of imprisoned journalist Dong YuYu, Dong Yifu, has called upon the United States, United Kingdom, and European nations to amplify diplomatic efforts aimed at securing his father's release, indicating that his father's conviction represents a perilous precedent.

Dong Yifu made these remarks following the Beijing High Court's rejection in November of an appeal to overturn Dong YuYu's prison sentence. His family has characterized this case as a blatant act of persecution, according to a report by The Independent.

The saga began in 2022 when Dong YuYu was dining with a Japanese diplomat at a Beijing hotel. What was supposed to be a routine meeting for the 63-year-old journalist, whose career has been focused on foreign affairs, escalated when police arrived and took him in for questioning.

Charged with spying allegations, Dong YuYu was sentenced to seven years in prison. The appeal against his sentence was dismissed by the Beijing High Court. The international community has raised alarms regarding his case, viewing it as indicative of the tightening grip on a media landscape that is already largely compliant.

In an interview with The Independent, Dong Yifu expressed, "Anyone with even a basic understanding of this situation would recognize its absurdity." He emphasized, "The government owes a detailed explanation to everyone, including the Chinese populace."

He remarked that the space for independent expression has been steadily contracting under Xi Jinping over the past decade. Commenting on his father's situation, he noted, "These were merely soft, moderate calls for reform. Even these voices are now being silenced."

Concerns have been raised by Dong's family regarding his health while being detained at a state security facility in Beijing, where he spent over three years before being transferred to No 2 prison, a facility housing various international inmates.

Dong YuYu stated, "The environment in which he spent the last three years offers barely any sunlight or natural light, adversely affecting his health. Furthermore, the quality of food is poor, raising significant nutritional concerns, especially given his age for a detainee."

The Beijing High Court's ruling has attracted backlash from rights advocates and press freedom organizations, who argue that the decision undermines what little remains of free expression in a nation that has already incarcerated numerous journalists under President Xi Jinping.

Beh Lih Yi, the Asia-Pacific Director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), asserted, "Engaging with diplomats is standard practice for journalists, not espionage." She emphasized, "China must immediately release Dong or it will signal to the world that its professed commitment to openness is merely rhetoric."

Dong YuYu previously served as the deputy head of the commentary department at Guangming Daily, a newspaper historically considered more liberal than other Communist Party outlets. He began his tenure at the publication in 1987, consistently advocating for constitutional democracy, political reform, and government accountability for the last 35 years.