China tells Marise Payne to stop interfering over writer Yang Hengjun’s detention

China hits back at Foreign Minister, telling Australia to stop interfering in case of detained writer.

The Australian government has raised concerns about the detention of Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun. Picture: AP

China has told Australia to stop interfering in the case of Chinese-Australian writer, while confirming Yang Hengjun is being held on suspicion of criminal activities.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said she is “deeply disappointed” the writer and former diplomat has been transferred to criminal detention. “If he is being detained for his political views, then he should be released,” she says.

But a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry says Beijing is carrying out a lawful investigation.

“China’s deplores the statement made by the Australian foreign minister and urges the Australian side to stop interfering in the handling of the case by the Chinese side and stop issuing irresponsible remarks,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Senator Payne yesterday hit out at the Chinese government’s decision to criminally charge Chinese-Australian writer Dr Yang.

In a strongly-worded statement which represents a major escalation of the issue, Senator Payne said if Dr Yang was being detained for his political beliefs he should be released.

Senator Payne said he had twice written to China’s Foreign Minister, State Councilor Wang Yi, “to request a fair and transparent resolution to this matter and that Dr Yang be granted access to his lawyers’’.

“This has not occurred.’’

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Picture: AFP

Dr Yang has been detained in Beijing since January 19 when he arrived from New York at China’s Guangzhou Airport with his wife Xiaoliang Yuan, and 14-year-old stepdaughter. China said in January he had been detained for allegedly endangering national security.

His wife, who is a permanent resident of Australia, has been banned from leaving China.

Australian lawyer Rob Stary said on Thursday he did not know what the 53-year-old visiting scholar at Columbia University in New York had been charged with.

“We expect it will be some form of espionage or something of that nature,’’ he said.

Senator Payne said the Australian government today received formal notification from Chinese authorities that he had been transferred to criminal detention in China.

“The Australian Government has raised its concerns about Dr Yang’s case regularly with China at senior levels,’’ Senator Payne said.

Australian Embassy officials have visited Dr Yang six times, most recently on 27 June, in accordance with a bilateral consular agreement with China.

“The government has expressed concern about Dr Yang’s welfare and the conditions under which he is held. And we have asked for clarification regarding the reasons for Dr Yang’s detention. If he is being detained for his political views, then he should be released.

“We have worked tirelessly and in good faith with the Chinese Government to advocate for Dr Yang’s interests since he was detained. We expect basic standards of justice and procedural fairness to be met,’’ Senator Payne said.

She said he Australian government was concerned by the development in relation to an Australian citizen. “We will continue to press Chinese authorities for fair and humane treatment, in accordance with international norms,’’ she said.

“Our thoughts are with Dr Yang and his family during this difficult period,’’ Senator Payne said.

Chinese authorities had until July 27 to decide whether they would charge the novelist and former Chinese diplomat as his six month detention order was due to expire at that date.

With AAP