Australian Chinese writer Yang Hengjun, who was arrested and accused of spying five years ago, has been given a suspended death sentence by a Chinese court.
Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said the Chinese court's decision was "harrowing" and “appalling.” She said she had summoned China's ambassador in Canberra for an explanation.
Australian officials say the death sentence imposed on the writer and activist may be commuted to life imprisonment after two years for good behavior.
Yang, who blogged about democracy and Chinese affairs, has always denied allegations of espionage. The specific charges against him have not been made public.
The Chinese-born Australian citizen has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States.
Speaking in Canberra Monday, Foreign Minister Wong said Australia would continue to ask for the writer’s release.
“The Australian government has advocated for Dr Yang with China at every opportunity and at the highest levels," she said. "We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr. Yang, in accordance with international norms and China's legal obligations. Australia will not relent in our advocacy for justice for Dr. Yang’s interests and wellbeing.”
Beh Lih Yi, the Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists or CPJ, a nonprofit which defends press freedom and journalists’ rights, said Yang's sentence was "appalling."
"Sentencing an individual to death for blogging and commenting on current affairs is appalling and absurd," Beh told VOA in an emailed statement. "It will create a chilling effect on journalism in China, where the space for independent reporting is already very limited."
According to CPJ, China was the world’s leading jailer of journalists in 2023, detaining 44 journalists out of 320 imprisoned globally. China’s list of journalists jailed includes Yang as well as others such as Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
Yang was arrested in Guangzhou, China in 2019, at a time when diplomatic relations between Australia and China were rapidly deteriorating over various geopolitical and trade disputes. His trial was held in secret in May 2021.
Daniela Gavshon is the Australia director at Human Rights Watch, an advocacy organization.
She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Yang’s treatment in China is appalling.
“Like everyone else, we are shocked.," she said. "It is an outrageous, outrageous outcome for Dr. Yang and his supporters and it is not evidence of any wrongdoing but really of Beijing’s corrupt and opaque criminal justice system. That someone can be sentenced to death on such scant information is deeply, deeply worrying.”
Australia's Ambassador to China has previously accused Chinese authorities of arbitrarily detaining Yang.
In October, China released Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been in detention for more than three years. She was accused of "supplying state secrets overseas," an allegation she denied.
Australian officials say she was freed after legal proceedings against her came to an end. No other details were given.
Australia’s left-leaning government came to power in May 2022 and has sought to stabilize relations with China, while stressing that there would be areas of difficulty and disagreement.
Analysts say Yang’s sentence could make it harder for both sides to ease diplomatic tensions.
