Dr Yang Hengjun’s final message to friend ahead of closed trial

An Australian citizen detained in China accused of spying has told friends he will ‘face suffering and torture with resilience’ ahead of a closed trial.

An Australian citizen detained in China accused of spying has told friends he will “face suffering and torture with resilience” ahead of a secret trial condemned by legal experts and the federal government.

Dr Yang Hengjun has had no contact with consular officials or legal assistance in the lead up to his trial, which starts on Thursday, more than two years after he was arrested.

Dr Yang Hengjun has been in jail for more than two years. Picture: Supplied

In a letter sent to a friend in March seen by The Daily Telegraph, Dr Yang revealed he still had “faint hope” the Chinese Government would “right the wrongs and do me justice”.

“I’ve been in confinement for 26 months now without fresh air or sunshine,” he said. “This has made my health deteriorate. But spiritually, I’m still strong.

“I will face suffering and torture with resilience.”

Dr Yang had previously written extensively about the benefits of democracy, and asked his friend to remind people in China what he had done if the “worst comes to the worst” at the trial, where he could potentially be handed a death sentence.

Dr Yang Hengjun has not been given access to legal assistance ahead of his trial. Picture: Supplied

“I hope that I will have more chances to tell readers what’s going on around the world, and what’s going on in me,” he said.

“If I get out, I will write articles to improve Australia-China relations and that will help China to understand the world, and the world to understand China.”

Chinese officials in Guangzhou took Dr Yang into custody in January 2019 when he stopped over on a connecting flight to Shanghai, en route to Australia.

He was charged with espionage in October 2020, having only been allowed to access legal assistance one month earlier.

The Law Council of Australia has backed Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne in calling for Dr Yang to be allowed legal representation and consular assistance.

Law Council president Dr Jacoba Brasch QC said the right to independent legal assistance “must be ensured from the moment of deprivation of liberty”, and “access to effective legal representation guaranteed to all persons at all stages of criminal proceedings”.

“This is a fundamental precondition to realising the right to a fair trial,” she said.

The Australian government is providing consular assistance to Dr Yang’s family.

In July his wife, an Australian resident, was banned from leaving China.

Originally published as Dr Yang Hengjun’s final message to friend ahead of closed trial