Yang Hengjun: Australian writer faces China spying charges

Yang Hengjun is a popular blogger and former Chinese diplomat

Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun has been formally arrested on espionage charges in China after months of detention, Australia has confirmed.

The Australian citizen has been held in Beijing since January under "harsh conditions", said the foreign ministry.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was "very concerned and disappointed" to learn of the arrest.

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

Mr Yang's supporters told the BBC that the formal arrest, on 23 August, was an expected but concerning development in his case.

He had been held without charge for more than seven months, during which time Canberra repeatedly pressed Beijing to release him.

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In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Ms Payne explicitly denied the allegations of espionage.

"There is no basis for any allegation Dr Yang was spying for the Australian government," she said.

Earlier, she had said that the reason for his detention had not been explained.

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

China's foreign ministry, meanwhile, told Australia not to interfere.

Despite Mr Yang's Australian citizenship, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters: "The Australian side should earnestly respect China's judicial sovereignty and must not intervene in any way to China's handling of the case."

Who is Yang Hengjun?

Mr Yang, a novelist and former Chinese diplomat, had lived outside his home country for more than a decade but maintained a popular blog on Chinese current affairs and international relations.

He was active on Chinese social media and Twitter, where he had more than 130,000 followers and was known as "the democracy peddler". But he had not been directly critical of Chinese authorities in recent years.

In January, the New York-based writer travelled to China with his wife Yuan Ruijuan and her child - both Chinese citizens - where he was detained at the airport in Guangzhou.

Yang Hengjun has blogged about political issues in China

Beijing has held him for alleged "involvement in criminal activities endangering China's national security" ever since.

His supporters say he has been subject to continuous interrogation under "residential surveillance" - a term often used when Chinese investigators hold a suspect in an unknown location.

His wife, Yuan Ruijuan, is still in China and is banned from leaving.

"It has had a huge impact, everyone is shattered. I've lost about five kilograms," she said. "I've been diagnosed with depression by hospital. His older sister is also broken, and can't sleep or eat. The whole family has collapsed, and can't believe it.

"But they are not surprised either, because he had been writing articles that are related to politics in recent years, his family had always feared that this day would come, but they never thought they would arrest him on such charges."

What is happening now?

China has allowed Australian consular officials to visit Mr Yang, but he has been denied access to his family and lawyers. He is expected to be moved to a state prison now he has been charged, his supporters say.

On Tuesday, Australia reiterated its expectations that he would be treated "in accordance with international human rights law". Beijing has not provided any comment on Mr Yang's detention.

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His friend, Sydney academic Feng Chongyi, told the BBC he believed he had been subject to torture and inhumane treatment during detention.

"Yang is a brave person and psychologically very strong," Mr Feng said.

"He has already withstood the torture and interrogation of the past seven months and not given in. I think he would be ready to face any form of punishment dealt to him by the Chinese government."

He suggested Mr Yang's arrest was part of a renewed crackdown by Beijing on Chinese democracy activists and writers abroad.

"Because he had a sizeable influence online, he was targeted. Whatever happens to him now all depends on the pressure exercised by the Australian government and the international community," Mr Feng said.

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He also likened Mr Yang's situation to the cases of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained just a few weeks before Mr Yang. They were formally arrested for spying in May.

China has denied the detention of the two men is tied to Canada's arrest of a senior Huawei official, Meng Wanzhou, but many analysts have characterised it as a tit-for-tat action.