China sentences Australian writer Yang Hengjun to death, accused of espionage

First modification: 02/05/2024 – 15:18

2 min

Australian writer and academic Yang Hengjun, imprisoned in China since 2019 on espionage charges, which he contests, has been given a suspended death sentence in that country, Australia announced on Monday, February 5, expressing its dismay.

“The Australian Government is dismayed by this decision,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared at a press conference, stressing that Canberra, the capital of Australia, will react “in the strongest possible terms.”

In addition, the minister made public that her country had summoned the Chinese ambassador to Australia. “I want to underline the acute distress that Dr Yang and his family must be feeling today, after years of uncertainty… All Australians want Dr Yang to be reunited with his family,” she said.

What is the background?

Yang Jun, born in China in 1965 but living in the United States, was detained upon his return to China in January 2019. He is the author of a series of spy novels and a popular Chinese-language blog.

He was tried behind closed doors in 2021. At the time, the trial, of which the verdict was not made public, was harshly criticized by human rights activists.

The writer, also known as Yang Hengjun, claimed in May 2021 that he had been tortured at an undisclosed location during his detention, fearing that a forced confession would be used against him. Beijing rejected these accusations.

In August 2023, Yang Jun said he feared for his life during his detention due to a large kidney cyst.

In China, the suspended death penalty is replaced by life imprisonment after two years of imprisonment.

This conviction, which was not immediately confirmed by Beijing, comes at a time when relations between China and Australia appeared to improve, with the release last October of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was also imprisoned in China accused of espionage.

Fragile relations between countries

Relations between both countries deteriorated in 2018 when Australia excluded the Chinese Huawei from its 5G telephone network.

Beijing also criticized Canberra for police raids on the homes of Chinese journalists based in Australia as part of an investigation into a possible influence campaign.

For good measure, Canberra also irritated Beijing by calling for an international investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in China.

In response, Beijing imposed high customs duties on many Australian exports such as meat, wine and barley; and paralyzed its coal imports. Most of these measures have been lifted since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came to power in May. The center-left leader visited Beijing in November, when he celebrated the “undeniable” improvement in ties between the two countries.

Australia, which has formed the Aukus military alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom, continues to try to counter China's influence in the South Pacific.

With AFP

This article was adapted from its original in French