Cheng Lei has finally been freed and released back home to Australia following three years in detention by China.

Spanning two governments-worth of negotiations, Anthony Albanese and Labor have finally seen the journalist return home. Michael Shoebridge told Chris O’Keefe he believes her release is a “reward” for the quieter way Albanese’s government has engaged with China.

“So I think this says that we’re in another charm offensive here from Beijing. They want to reward the Albanese government for being much quieter about the problems that China is making for us”, the Strategic Analysis Australia founder and director told 2GB Drive.

Hear more highlights from Drive with Chris O’Keefe below: