Yang Hengjun: Australian-born sons jailed in China urge his release

The family of an Australian writer detained in China for almost five years.
Yang Hengjun has been held on espionage allegations.
Yang Hengjun’s sons have penned a letter to PM Anthony Albanese.

The family of an Australian writer detained in China for almost five years is urgently appealing to their government to secure his release, expressing fears that he “may be dying.”

Yang Hengjun has been held on espionage allegations, which he denies, and his case has strained relations between him, his family, and the Australian government.

Yang Hengjun’s sons have penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of the leader’s significant visit to Beijing, aiming to improve diplomatic ties, where they emphasize the urgency of their father’s situation.

Dr. Yang’s secret trial took place in 2021, and the specific charges against him have not been made public.

The letter, issued by his sons, who had previously kept silent about his detention, draws attention to the recent release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei and implores Prime Minister Albanese to advocate for his father’s life. They point out that Dr. Yang’s health has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks.

Mr. Albanese is scheduled to be the first Australian leader to visit China since 2016, to address the series of contentious issues that have disrupted high-level meetings between the two nations.

Dr. Yang, a former employee of China’s Ministry of State Security, was a scholar and novelist in Australia, known for blogging about Chinese affairs.

His writings typically avoided direct criticism of the Chinese government although he was often referred to as the “democracy peddler.”

He was detained at Guangzhou airport in January 2019 and accused of espionage, with much of his case unfolding behind closed doors.

China’s foreign ministry has consistently warned against interfering in the case and urged respect for China’s “judicial sovereignty” while Australian officials have raised concerns about his detention.

Dr. Yang’s family claims he has endured “more than 300 interrogations” and “six months of intense torture” during his detention.

He was diagnosed with a large kidney cyst, which had previously gone undisclosed in August. His health had deteriorated significantly, with Dr. Yang unable to walk or perform basic tasks, raising concerns about his well-being and medical treatment.

The letter also includes quotes from Dr. Yang himself, expressing his dire condition and hope for his release.

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