Detained Australian Writer Yang Hengjun’s Health Raises Concerns as Verdict Delayed
Friends of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who has been detained in Beijing on undisclosed national security charges for the past two years, are expressing growing concerns about his deteriorating health. The verdict in his case has been repeatedly delayed, causing anxiety among those close to him.
Yang, a pro-democracy blogger and an Australian citizen of Chinese descent, was arrested in 2019 at Guangzhou airport. Prior to his arrest, he had been working in New York. This incident coincided with a significant deterioration in the relationship between Australia and China.
In May 2021, Yang’s trial took place in secret at a Beijing court, and the details of the case remain undisclosed. Yang has consistently denied allegations that he was working as a spy for Australia or the United States. However, after facing ten delays, a verdict in his case is now expected to be delivered in October.
Concerns for Yang’s health have intensified after the Australian Embassy in Beijing visited him and learned that he has a 10 cm cyst on his kidney, potentially requiring surgery. Feng Chongyi, a friend and former academic supervisor at the University of Technology, Sydney, who has been briefed on the matter, believes this constitutes a compelling case for the Australian government to demand Yang’s release to Australia on medical parole.
Yang’s case, along with that of detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was recently tried in secret on similar national security charges, is closely watched in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit Beijing later this year, which adds further significance to these cases.
When asked about Yang’s case, Albanese stated that he plans to raise concerns about Yang’s health during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 meeting next month. The spokesperson for Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed the government’s shared concerns regarding the delays in Yang’s case and emphasized the need for basic standards of justice and medical treatment.
In diplomatic efforts, Yang’s case has been discussed during bilateral consular meetings between China and Australia, which resumed last week. However, China’s foreign ministry has previously urged Australia not to interfere in the case.
Yang himself expressed anxiety over an online article accusing him of being recruited as a spy by a CIA agent during the 1980s, which he vehemently denied. His supporters fear that the Chinese government may exploit his case to highlight its counter-espionage campaign.
Tensions between the United States and China have strained in recent years, including disputes over national security and allegations of espionage from both sides. In July, China expanded its anti-spying law, further alarming the United States.
The Chinese embassy in Australia and the Chinese foreign ministry have not yet responded to requests for comments on Yang’s case.
