Chinese-Australian novellist Yang Hengjun has been in prison in China since 2019. (Supplied: Twitter)
In short:
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia has "serious concerns" for the health of writer Yang Hengjun, who was jailed in China on spying charges.
Dr Yang was handed a suspended death sentence a year ago by a Beijing court and has been imprisoned since 2019 over allegations, which he denies.
Last year, his family said Dr Yang had a large cyst on his kidney, and feared he would die in prison without proper treatment.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has voiced "serious concerns" over the health of Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is in jail in China.
Dr Yang was handed a suspended death sentence a year ago by a Beijing court and has been imprisoned since 2019 on charges of spying.
Both he and the Australian government have repeatedly rejected accusations of spying.
Dr Yang did not appeal the sentence as his family said Dr Yang had no faith in the Chinese court system, and his ill health makes it impossible for him to continue his legal fight.
Yang Hengjun and his wife Yuan Xiaoliang. (AP: Chongyi Feng)
He told supporters last year that he had a large cyst on his kidney, and that he feared dying in prison because he could not get proper treatment.
"We hold serious concerns about Dr Yang's health and conditions," Minister Wong said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We continue to press to ensure his needs are met and he receives appropriate medical care."
Minister Wong said the government had made clear to China it remained "appalled" by the suspended death sentence for the Chinese-born Australian citizen and wanted to see Mr Yang reunited with his family.
"Dr Yang is entitled to basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment, in accordance with international norms and China's legal obligations," she said.
Beijing edits Yang Hengjun's online record
Photo shows A screenshot with a red box highlighting some Chinese characters that were changed in a transcript of a press conference.
Dr Yang was tried in a closed-door hearing in May 2021, but Australian officials were denied access to the trial, and no verdict was delivered until earlier this month.
In their statement at the time, Dr Yang's family and supporters said that he was targeted by the Chinese state because he had "written and published hundreds of online articles explaining and advocating for the kinds of universal values — human rights, democracy, the rule of law – that Australians at home might sometimes take for granted".
China's foreign ministry responded by insisting it was "governed by the rule of law" and asked Australia to "respect" its judicial sovereignty.
"China… fully protects the legitimate rights of relevant parties, and fully respects and protects Australia's consular rights such as visits," the ministry said in a statement.
It is understood Dr Yang's suspended death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment if no "serious crimes" are committed for two years.
"The past year, and the five years of detention before his sentencing, have been a difficult and dark time for Dr Yang," Minister Wong said.
"Throughout, he has demonstrated his inner strength and remarkable resilience."
-ABC/AFP
