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| 'Please help me': detained Australian Yang Hengjun issues plea to Scott Morrison | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun – potentially facing the death penalty on charges of espionage in China – has issued a plea to the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to “please help me go home as soon as possible”. | |
| In a message relayed through an Australian consular official, Yang thanked supporters for their assistance, and said he was indebted to the Australian embassy for continuing to visit him and advocate on his behalf. | In a message relayed through an Australian consular official, Yang thanked supporters for their assistance, and said he was indebted to the Australian embassy for continuing to visit him and advocate on his behalf. |
| “A [Ministry of State Security] investigation officer told me that Australia was small and wouldn’t care about me. He said Australia was dependent on China for its trade and economy, and Canberra wouldn’t help me, let alone rescue me. | “A [Ministry of State Security] investigation officer told me that Australia was small and wouldn’t care about me. He said Australia was dependent on China for its trade and economy, and Canberra wouldn’t help me, let alone rescue me. |
| “He said Australia wouldn’t help because I am not white. | “He said Australia wouldn’t help because I am not white. |
| Yang Hengjun: Australia presses for writer's release as China warns against interference | Yang Hengjun: Australia presses for writer's release as China warns against interference |
| “This is nonsense. He was wrong. I am extremely grateful to the Australian prime minister, foreign minister and members of parliament, the embassy team, and the ambassador for their help.” | “This is nonsense. He was wrong. I am extremely grateful to the Australian prime minister, foreign minister and members of parliament, the embassy team, and the ambassador for their help.” |
| Held for seven months, largely in solitary confinement, by Beijing’s Ministry of State Security, Yang was last week informed he was being formally arrested and would be charged with a single count of espionage. He has not been given any detail about his alleged offence. | Held for seven months, largely in solitary confinement, by Beijing’s Ministry of State Security, Yang was last week informed he was being formally arrested and would be charged with a single count of espionage. He has not been given any detail about his alleged offence. |
| There are a range of espionage charges under Chinese law, carrying penalties from three years imprisonment to execution. | There are a range of espionage charges under Chinese law, carrying penalties from three years imprisonment to execution. |
| The 54-year-old Yang, an author, blogger and and pro-democracy campaigner, relayed his message through an Australian consular official on Tuesday. | The 54-year-old Yang, an author, blogger and and pro-democracy campaigner, relayed his message through an Australian consular official on Tuesday. |
| He is allowed one half-hour meeting with Australian embassy staff each month, but he has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers, or with his family members. His wife, an Australian permanent resident, has been banned from leaving China. | He is allowed one half-hour meeting with Australian embassy staff each month, but he has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers, or with his family members. His wife, an Australian permanent resident, has been banned from leaving China. |
| Morrison said on Thursday morning the government is concerned about Yang. | |
| “There’s their own justice process that they’ll follow in China and that’s appropriate, but these suggestions that he’s acted for a spy for Australia are absolutely untrue,” he told Nine’s Today program on Thursday. | |
| Morrison says he respects China’s sovereignty, “but we do expect Australians, indeed all citizens, to have their human rights appropriately looked after.” | |
| Yang said he had devoted 15 years to writing for China, for Chinese people and for reform of the country’s political system. He said he had worked to improve China’s relations with the US and Australia. He said he did not deserve the kind of treatment he had experienced. | Yang said he had devoted 15 years to writing for China, for Chinese people and for reform of the country’s political system. He said he had worked to improve China’s relations with the US and Australia. He said he did not deserve the kind of treatment he had experienced. |
| Yang’s detention in January and now formal arrest has strained relations between Beijing and Canberra, already laboured over a range of issues: Chinese telco Huawei’s 5G ban by Australia’s foreign investment review board; allegations of Chinese espionage in Australia; Chinese influence in Australian education and political systems; and Beijing’s military expansionism in the South China Sea. | Yang’s detention in January and now formal arrest has strained relations between Beijing and Canberra, already laboured over a range of issues: Chinese telco Huawei’s 5G ban by Australia’s foreign investment review board; allegations of Chinese espionage in Australia; Chinese influence in Australian education and political systems; and Beijing’s military expansionism in the South China Sea. |
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| Sign up to receive the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning | Sign up to receive the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning |
| The Australian government has repeatedly denied Yang was a spy working on its behalf. “There is no basis for that allegation,” the foreign minister, Marise Payne, said. | The Australian government has repeatedly denied Yang was a spy working on its behalf. “There is no basis for that allegation,” the foreign minister, Marise Payne, said. |
| “We are seeking for Dr Yang’s detention, obviously for him to be released in the first instance, particularly if he is only being held for his political beliefs. | “We are seeking for Dr Yang’s detention, obviously for him to be released in the first instance, particularly if he is only being held for his political beliefs. |
| “But … if he is to be detained, that he is detained in accordance with the expectations afforded to him through conventions and international law and they include access to lawyers, and they include appropriate conditions of detention.” | “But … if he is to be detained, that he is detained in accordance with the expectations afforded to him through conventions and international law and they include access to lawyers, and they include appropriate conditions of detention.” |
| In response, the Chinese government warned Australia against advocating on Yang’s behalf. | In response, the Chinese government warned Australia against advocating on Yang’s behalf. |
| “China deplores the Australian statement on this case,” the foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. “I would like to reiterate that China is a country with rule of law. Australia should respect China’s judicial sovereignty and not interfere in any way in China’s lawful handling of the case.” | “China deplores the Australian statement on this case,” the foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. “I would like to reiterate that China is a country with rule of law. Australia should respect China’s judicial sovereignty and not interfere in any way in China’s lawful handling of the case.” |
| Geng insisted Yang was being afforded due process. | Geng insisted Yang was being afforded due process. |
| “The national security organ handles the case in accordance with law and fully guarantees Yang’s rights. He is in good physical condition.” | “The national security organ handles the case in accordance with law and fully guarantees Yang’s rights. He is in good physical condition.” |
| Yang was formerly a diplomat for China’s ministry of foreign affairs, before working in the private sector in Hong Kong and moving to Australia, where he took out citizenship, then the US. A novelist under the nom de plume Wei Shi, he has been a popular blogger, political commentator and agitator for democratic reforms in China for more than a decade. | Yang was formerly a diplomat for China’s ministry of foreign affairs, before working in the private sector in Hong Kong and moving to Australia, where he took out citizenship, then the US. A novelist under the nom de plume Wei Shi, he has been a popular blogger, political commentator and agitator for democratic reforms in China for more than a decade. |
| Yang, who became an Australian citizen in 2002, had been living in the United States, where he was a visiting scholar at Columbia University, before flying to Guangzhou with his family in January. His wife and child were able to enter China, but authorities escorted Yang from the plane into detention. | Yang, who became an Australian citizen in 2002, had been living in the United States, where he was a visiting scholar at Columbia University, before flying to Guangzhou with his family in January. His wife and child were able to enter China, but authorities escorted Yang from the plane into detention. |
| Kevin Rudd accuses Liberals of stirring up hysteria about China | Kevin Rudd accuses Liberals of stirring up hysteria about China |
| The Chinese government has made politically motivated arrests in the past, detaining foreign nationals either as retribution for an act or perceived slight, or as leverage – a bargaining chip – in diplomatic negotiations. | The Chinese government has made politically motivated arrests in the past, detaining foreign nationals either as retribution for an act or perceived slight, or as leverage – a bargaining chip – in diplomatic negotiations. |
| The Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained in December, arrests described by Beijing’s ambassador to Canada as “retaliation” for the arrest in Canada of a senior executive from Chinese technology company Huawei. | The Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained in December, arrests described by Beijing’s ambassador to Canada as “retaliation” for the arrest in Canada of a senior executive from Chinese technology company Huawei. |
| Sources have told the Guardian there is concern in some circles that Yang’s arrest marks a further escalation in this “hostage diplomacy” tactic. | Sources have told the Guardian there is concern in some circles that Yang’s arrest marks a further escalation in this “hostage diplomacy” tactic. |
| But Payne said she did not believe Yang’s arrest was an example of hostage diplomacy. | But Payne said she did not believe Yang’s arrest was an example of hostage diplomacy. |
| “We have no reason to think it [Yang’s arrest] is connected to other issues,” she said. | “We have no reason to think it [Yang’s arrest] is connected to other issues,” she said. |
| Others have said the decision to arrest Yang was a reflection of his latent influence as a pro-democracy campaigner. While he has softened his political commentary in recent years, Yang remains globally influential and with a massive online audience, numbering in the millions. | Others have said the decision to arrest Yang was a reflection of his latent influence as a pro-democracy campaigner. While he has softened his political commentary in recent years, Yang remains globally influential and with a massive online audience, numbering in the millions. |
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