A Chinese journalist who was given a prison sentence for espionage after meeting with a Japanese Embassy official has reportedly appealed the ruling.

Dong Yuyu served as the deputy editor of the commentary section at the Guangming Daily newspaper, which is affiliated with the ruling Communist Party.

He was detained in February 2022 shortly after he met with the Japanese Embassy official in Beijing. After being indicted on spying charges, Dong was handed a seven-year jail term last month.

Sources familiar with the case said Dong appealed the ruling on Monday.

Dong was known for interacting with foreign diplomats and media officials. His family said that in the ruling, the names of the Japanese Embassy officials who Dong met were raised, and they were described as agents for a spy organization.

His family claims that there is no evidence to prove that he was spying, and that the court recognized his crime based on the principle of "the presumption of guilty."

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said the activities by the country's diplomats are legitimate. The US State Department condemned the ruling as "unjust."