Australian writer charged with spying by Chinese authorities

CANBERRA, Aug 27, 2019, AAP. Australian writer and democracy advocate Yang Hengjun has been formally charged with espionage by Chinese authorities. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Australian government was “very concerned and disappointed” to learn of the charges against him, reported the 9News.

“Our thoughts are with Dr Yang and his family at this very difficult time,” Senator Payne said today.

“Dr Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months.

“Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang’s detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits.”

Dr Yang’s lawyer Rob Stary said it was still unclear what the charges related to.

“We think it relates to espionage on behalf of Australia, but it’s not specified on the charge sheet,” Mr Stary told AAP.

“We’d obviously be disturbed by that if it was the allegation, because there is absolutely no foundation for it at all.”

The Chinese-born writer was detained in Guangzhou earlier this year after flying in from New York.
Mr Stary suspects the espionage charge relates to Mr Yang’s democracy activism.

“He’s a blogger and that’s what he does, he’s an academic, he’s of a different ilk,” he told AAP.

“He had been active and he’s been politically active in promoting democratic values. That’s the basis of it, as we understand.”

Mr Stary said the Australian government needed to intervene.

“It has to be resolved diplomatically and if there is no real or proper foundation for those charges, then he ought to be released and repatriated,” he said.

Senator Payne has discussed his plight with China’s foreign minister twice, and has written to him three times.

“We have serious concerns for Dr Yang’s welfare, and about the conditions under which he is being been held,” she said.

“It is important, and we expect, that basic standards of justice and procedural fairness are met.

“I respectfully reiterate my previous requests that if Dr Yang is being held for his political beliefs, he should be released.”

Embassy officials have visited Dr Yang seven times since his detention, most recently on 25 July.
They have a visit approved for today.

“I will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of Dr Yang to ensure a satisfactory explanation of the basis for his arrest, that he is treated humanely and that he is allowed to return home,” Senator Payne said.

Labor is “very concerned” by the development and has requested a briefing from department officials.

Last month, China lashed out at the Australian minister’s public statements about Dr Yang’s case.

“China deplores the statement made by the Australian foreign minister and urges the Australian side to stop interfering in the handling of the case by the Chinese side and stop issuing irresponsible remarks,” a spokesperson said.

“The Chinese authority will handle the case in strict accordance with the law and fully protect his legal rights.”

The 53-year-old, who has held Australian citizenship since 2002 and has a doctorate from the University of Technology Sydney, was living in New York as a visiting scholar at Columbia University.