Australian academic Yang Hengjun charged in China

China has used the cover of COVID-19 to charge Yang Hengjun with espionage, sparking criticism from Marise Payne.

The charges against Yang Hengjun sparked criticism of China from Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne. Picture: AP

China has used the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic to formally charge Australian citizen Yang Hengjun with espionage, ignoring months of back-channel negotiations by the Australian government aimed at giving Beijing a diplomatic “off-ramp”.

The move follows shocking treatment of Dr Yang by Chinese authorities, revealed in reports of consular visits obtained by The Australian.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne blasted Chinese authorities for their decision to charge Dr Yang, saying they had refused to engage on his case and were yet to provide formal advice on his indictment.

“Crises are a time for nations to pull together. It is not in the spirit of mutual respect and trust that our continued advocacy for Dr Yang has not been acknowledged,” Senator Payne said.

“Dr Yang’s poor health makes him especially vulnerable to COVID-19. In our most recent representations, we appealed for humanitarian considerations to apply to Dr Yang’s situation.

“We deeply regret that for over a year, our requests have not been taken up. Dr Yang has had no access to legal representation and has been held in harsh conditions that have been detrimental to his physical and mental health.”

Yang Hengjun

Dr Yang, who was detained in January last year at Guangzhou airport, faces the death penalty if found guilty for the alleged offences, which have not been detailed by Chinese authorities.

Consular reports show Dr Yang was denied showers for up to a fortnight at a time, was refused letters from family and friends and was only allowed to read books by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a November meeting with consular officials, Dr Yang said he was managing his mental health as well as expected for someone who was living in a “subterranean concrete cage”.

He told Australian officials he had been questioned for 10 consecutive days.

His hands and feet were shackled during the interrogations and he was repeatedly asked the same questions.

Consular officials reported after a visit in April last year that Dr Yang was kept in a constantly lit cell, and forced to sit on a stool from 7am to midnight.

“He also described hearing the same song continuously going around in his head,” the April visit report said.

Australian officials raised the issue of the light again in May, urging Chinese authorities to remove the “bright bulb” above his bed.

“They advised they would consider the request to change the bulb. The authorities advised that Mr Yang is not allowed to have any form of eye cover or hand cover,” the report said.

Earlier in his detention he was being given two unknown tablets a day, but by November the dosage was increased to nine tablets.

He was reported experiencing high blood pressure and sometimes felt dizzy, especially in the morning.

He said his memory had deteriorated and he “didn’t have many things to remember”.

“He thought they were trying to get people to forget about him, and wanted to victimise and incriminate him,” the report said

“He had lost confidence in the legal system. He hoped the diplomatic and political approach would continue.

“He said he would stick to the truth, and he would never confess to something he did not do.”

Senator Payne said the Australian government, which has been refused access to the writer since December, “will always support Dr Yang”.

“We have asked repeatedly that basic international standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment apply,” Senator Payne said.

“In the absence of consular visits as a result of COVID-19, we have requested contact by telephone or correspondence. Both requests have been rejected. This is unacceptable treatment of an Australian citizen.

“We call for Dr Yang’s immediate release and that he be allowed to leave China and travel to Australia with his wife.”