HE writer, academic and pro-democracy activist Yang Hengjun, Australian of Chinese descenthappened condemned this morning in china postponement of death penalty after a while dark process even by national standards. Decision regarding the allegations espionage It was revealed five years after his arrest by the Australian Government and three years after the trial.
Deferred death penalty, a common legal figure in Chinaallows changing with life imprisonment after two years of good behavior. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described the incident as “heartbreaking” and “appalling”. He announced at a press conference that he had asked China’s ambassador to Canberra, Xiao Qian, to make a statement about the decision. “All Australians want to see Dr Yang with his family,” Wong added. She also reminded that his Government adamantly wants the Chinese to be released. “Fundamental standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment” for his fellow countryman.
Before moving to China, Yang worked for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Australia and get your citizenship. He published his novels under the name ‘Wei Shi’ and posted on his account X (formerly Twitter), which has around 130,000 followers. democratic reforms inside Chinese. In recent years, he lived in the United States and worked as an academic at Columbia University.
Detained at an unknown location
Yang In 2019, after landing at Guangzhou (southern province of Guangdong) airport with his wife and son, he was detained and subjected to the usual procedure. The first is the system known as “home surveillance at a designated location”: detention without communication in an unknown location interrogations made with outside or legal assistance and little civility. When the prosecutor’s office accepted the case in July, he was transferred to a detention center in the capital, with only a half-hour monthly meeting with consular representatives.
Beijing He later announced that he was accused of “criminal activities endangering national security.” Neither then nor now did he specify what they consisted of, but the severity of the sentence pointed to espionage. It is also unknown which country Yang will act in favor of. HE activist, 58 years oldTwo years after this arrest, he was tried behind closed doors and without the presence of Australian authorities, common precautions were taken in trials related to national security. Relatives warned declining health and especially A large cyst was detected in his kidney.
A blow to the diplomatic thaw
sentence one unexpected blow to diplomatic thaw And advert China-Australia. Relations had deteriorated during the conservative government period. exclusion between technology giant Huawei national networks, laws against what Canberra perceives as Chinese interference, and a demand for clarification on the origins of the outbreak.
Rise to power last year Anthony Albanese the current has changed. HE labor leader Re-established dialogue and discussed Xi Jinping He made a historic trip to Beijing last year. China removed some tariffs and released Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei, was arrested in 2020. Inertia suggested that Yang would also benefit from the political context. This sentence strengthens those who criticize the government’s strategy.
Human rights organizations also condemned the decision. “After years of arbitrary detention, allegations of torture, closed hearings and lack of access to lawyers of his own choosing, such a harsh sentence is alarming,” said Daniela Gavshon, director of Human Rights Watch.