SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Reuters) - Australian citizen and journalist Cheng Lei, who worked for Chinese state television’s international channel, CGTN, was formally arrested in China on Feb. 5 after six months of detention, Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday.

“Chinese authorities have advised that Ms Cheng was arrested on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas,” Payne said in a statement.