China confirms detained Australian Cheng Lei is accused of leaking state secrets, as her family break their silence

The family of an Australian single mother detained in China on national security grounds have broken their silence, saying her children are devastated by her absence and keep asking when she is coming home.

Cheng Lei, a business anchor for China’s state television network CGTN, has been locked up in Beijing without charge or access to a lawyer for six months.

In recent days, Chinese authorities confirmed for the first time that she is accused…