China has handed a suspended death sentence to Australian writer and blogger Yang Hengjun on charges of espionage, drawing sharp condemnation from Australia.
Background on Yang Hengjun
Yang Hengjun is a Chinese-born Australian writer and democracy activist. He was a former Chinese diplomat before moving to Australia in the early 2000s and obtaining Australian citizenship.
He is a prominent political blogger and novelist, and has been critical of the Chinese Communist Party’s authoritarian rule. He has a large following online and has advocated for democratic reforms in China.
Yang had traveled back and forth between China and Australia frequently until he was detained in January 2019 at Guangzhou Airport after arriving from New York, where he was a visiting scholar at Columbia University. He has been held in detention facilities in Beijing since then, with limited access to his family or lawyers.
Arrest and Detention in China
According to Chinese authorities, Yang had long been suspected of engaging in “criminal activities endangering national security” by working with outsiders to smear and denigrate China.
He was formally arrested seven months after his detention on charges of espionage and illegally providing state secrets overseas. Australian diplomats have said the charges remain vague.
He faced a closed-door trial in May 2021 with no media access. The court said state secrets involved in Yang’s case impeded efforts by Australian diplomats to observe the legal proceedings. His detention and trial drew repeated appeals for transparency from Australia.
Sentencing and International Reactions
On February 5, 2024, a Chinese court sentenced Yang to death with a two-year reprieve on charges of spying for Australia, a penalty that is normally commuted to a life sentence.
Australia decried the “harrowing” verdict, while rights groups said the harsh sentence was meant to intimidate supporters of democracy and free speech.
| Country | Reaction |
|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was “appalled” at the sentence. Prime Minister Chris Bowen called for Yang’s immediate release. |
| United States | The White House called the trial “a blatant attempt to use arbitrary detention as a coercive instrument.” Secretary of State Brian Schatz urged China to release Yang. |
| United Kingdom | Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry expressed concern over lack of transparency and fair trial guarantees in Yang’s case. |
| European Union | The EU denounced the death sentence as “completely unacceptable.” The EU called on China to review Yang’s conviction and sentence. |
A suspended death sentence is normally reduced to life imprisonment in China if no new offenses are committed during the suspension period. But critics fear Yang could still face danger in Chinese detention centers notorious for torture, harassment and denial of medical care.
What’s Next for Yang Hengjun
Yang still faces the prospect of life in prison. His sentence is likely to strain already tense relations between Australia and its largest trading partner, China.
Some analysts predict China could seek concessions from Australia in exchange for reducing Yang’s sentence down the line given the high-profile pressure. But Australia is unlikely to soften its stance on issues like the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei as a bargaining chip.
Yang can appeal his verdict to higher courts in China, but the opaque legal system offers little hope for a fair appeal. Barring an unexpected reversal or concession from China, he will remain imprisoned indefinitely. His case underscores the increasingly authoritarian turn under Chinese President Xi Jinping and the risks faced by activists and writers.
The harsh sentencing of an Australian citizen will also raise hard questions for other countries seeking to balance strategic ties with China and speaking out against its human rights record. Ultimately, Yang has become both a victim of and proxy for larger tensions between the West and an ascendant Chinese superpower.
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