Suspended Death Sentence Issued for Australian Writer in China on Espionage Charges

A court in Beijing on Monday issued a "suspended death sentence" for Yang Hengjun, an Australian writer. This ruling threatens the recently improving relations between the two countries, which had been strained for several years. The sentence, issued on February 4, comes five years after Yang's arrest in China and three years after his trial behind closed doors on espionage charges, shocking his family and supporters. Analysts say this development jeopardizes the recent warming of relations between Australia and China, which had been marred by tensions over trade, COVID-19, and China's security situation until late last year. Yang, a pro-democracy blogger, was born in China and is an Australian citizen. He was working in New York before being arrested at Guangzhou Airport in 2019. The Chinese government has accused Yang, who worked for the Ministry of State Security from 1989 to 1999, of "espionage" for "a country," although the name of this country and the details of his case have not been made public. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters that Yang was found guilty of espionage. He added that Yang was "sentenced to two years suspended death and ordered the confiscation of all his personal property." A suspended death sentence in China gives the accused a two-year reprieve, after which the sentence automatically converts to life imprisonment or, in rare cases, a fixed-term imprisonment. Feng Chongyi, a Sydney-based researcher and Yang's friend, called the court ruling a "serious injustice" and noted that Yang's wife was present in court to hear the verdict. He added that Yang has denied the charges. Feng stated, "Yang is being punished by the Chinese government for criticizing human rights violations in China and advocating for global values such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law." He urged the Australian government to seek Yang's medical parole, citing that five years of detention have jeopardized his health. Penny Wong, Australia's Foreign Minister, expressed that Australia was "shocked" by the court's decision and summoned the Chinese ambassador. She added, "This is heartbreaking news for Dr. Yang, his family, and all those who have supported him." Yang's two sons, living in Australia, have written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, requesting that he seek his release on medical grounds. His supporters argue that Yang should be conditionally released for medical reasons, as he has a kidney cyst that may require surgery. The Beijing court held Yang's trial in May 2021 in secret, and the case against him was never publicly disclosed. He has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States and has refuted any wrongdoing in letters sent from prison to his family. Yang immigrated to Australia in 1999 and became a citizen in 2002. He graduated with a PhD from the University of Technology Sydney in 2006 and spent the next four years writing spy novels about a double agent named Yang. His novels were published in Taiwan. Elaine Pearson, head of Human Rights Watch in Asia, called Yang's sentence "cruel" and urged the Australian government to "work with other governments whose citizens have been arbitrarily detained – including Canada, Japan, and the United States."