Ching Cheong said he was a talking dog when he was jailed in China

[Leepotism]

Jail reduced ex-ST China correspondent to a 'talking dog'

Former ST chief China correspondent details torture he suffered in detention in book

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Mr Ching's book, My 1,000 Days Ordeal, details his time in detention by the Chinese government over espionage charges, which he disputes to this day. He expects to finish a second book on his detention by the end of next year.

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Prison guards made him squat before letting him talk to them. They also forced him to eat sitting in that same demeaning position under the sun in a circle of prisoners.
Former Straits Times (ST) chief China correspondent Ching Cheong endured that kind of treatment and worse while detained by the Chinese government from 2005 to 2008.
"Life in the Chinese jail was extremely dehumanising," he said. "Mind you, the jail where I was held was already considered by Chinese standards a 'civilised' one."
Mr Ching, who now writes freelance for The Straits Times and The Sunday Times, was speaking on Saturday at the launch <INNITY></INNITY>of the English and simplified Chinese versions of his book, My 1,000 Days Ordeal, at the Singapore Writers Festival. The book details his time in detention over espionage charges, which he disputes to this day.

 

[StinkiePeasants]

The title of his book should have been: My 1,000 Day Ordeal

Even the publisher of his book didn't spot his wrong grammar.

 

[hairylee]

He should compare notes with those Marxist Conspirators detained by LKY.

 

[Dreamer1]

Ching Cheong is a good journalist from 154th ranking SPH Press,more of them will appear.

 

[Leepotism]

Maybe he is double agent.

 

[tualingong]

It is ironic that he works for a propaganda machinery and he got detained by another enforcer of a propaganda machinery?

moral of the story, never get involved with a propaganda machinery.

 

[watchman8]

Almost all NSman went through demeaning treatment during NSF days, and sometimes even during ICT days. Which NSman has not eaten a meal while squating in a circle? NSF also have to run around like clowns, be scolded and punished for the most minor infractions like addressing the NCO with slight errors. Not to mention sleep depravation and physical exhaustion while constantly being treated like dogs.

And where was the Sinklie govt when Ching Cheong was under arrest? What kind of govt doesn't stand up to injustice done to its own citizen overseas? Did sinkie govt pull up the Chinese ambassador for a scolding and warning session? Nope, this sinkie government kept quiet and even allowed hundreds of thousands of PRC to take up work in sinkieland while their own poodle Ching Cheong was squating in Chinese prison for questionable charges.

MFA should answer. Wasn't it George Yeo who was minister of foreign affairs at that time. Good riddance of this useless sinkie minister.

 

[mojito]

Chin Cheong in China.

 

[scroobal]

He was detained for espionage not for conducting a protest march. Note how low key the whole thing was handled. Note that he no longer works for SPH. Put 2 and 2 together. Using Journalist has been part and parcel of espionage. Their press credentials provides access to places and high ranking people that no foreigner can. Everyone does it.

He could have carried on with his job but it was not case. It called a deal. The wife is also with SPH and based in HK.

And where was the Sinklie govt when Ching Cheong was under arrest? What kind of govt doesn't stand up to injustice done to its own citizen overseas? Did sinkie govt pull up the Chinese ambassador for a scolding and warning session? Nope, this sinkie government kept quiet and even allowed hundreds of thousands of PRC to take up work in sinkieland while their own poodle Ching Cheong was squating in Chinese prison for questionable charges.

MFA should answer. Wasn't it George Yeo who was minister of foreign affairs at that time. Good riddance of this useless sinkie minister.

 

[MBSSLOTS]

he is an taipei agent. period.

 

[watchman8]

He was detained for espionage not for conducting a protest march. Note how low key the whole thing was handled. Note that he no longer works for SPH. Put 2 and 2 together. Using Journalist has been part and parcel of espionage. Their press credentials provides access to places and high ranking people that no foreigner can. Everyone does it.

He could have carried on with his job but it was not case. It called a deal. The wife is also with SPH and based in HK.

I think he coming out with book now is tied to china leadership change. He was probably jailed by jiang faction for daring to dig up zhao ziyang and other pro-reformists, rather than being taipei's agent. Now that jiang faction is in decline, cheong likely have blessing from several parties to publish his account to add another nail into jiang faction decline.

 

[scroobal]

He was caught with classified materials. Explain why he is no longer with SPH which does not report to China.

I think he coming out with book now is tied to china leadership change. He was probably jailed by jiang faction for daring to dig up zhao ziyang and other pro-reformists, rather than being taipei's agent. Now that jiang faction is in decline, cheong likely have blessing from several parties to publish his account to add another nail into jiang faction decline.

 

[Dreamer1]

Is he a Singapore citizen?I doubt it,as he is a clever man,and it is super easy to be a PR(high class) as a citizen in Singapore(low class).the choice is obvious.

 

[GoldenDragon]

I don't think he was wrongly arrested. That's why MFA LL and kept a low profile. As scroobal mentioned in an earlier post, journalists are your best assets for espionage activities. Whether he was a double agent or not, no one knows. But agent, surely he was.

 

[scroobal]

Not a Singapore citizen. HK chap. He served less than 2 years out of 5 years when he was convicted. Very unusual for an espionage charge. Singapore cannot afford to have such an individual having access to sensitive materials. The Chinese national who was arrested with him for passing over the classified material was also convicted.

Like so many in his position and for the sake of the family and friends they become "activist" and start talking about freedom and write books along these lines. Either that or become a reverend in a new age church and tell the captive audience how he turned his life around and now fights evil and is an admired role model.

Is he a Singapore citizen?I doubt it,as he is a clever man,and it is super easy to be a PR(high class) as a citizen in Singapore(low class).the choice is obvious.

 

[Huat-Ah]

Maybe he is double agent.

Yeah, JAMES BOND !