Nothing to see here, says China of Yang Hengjun’s imprisonment

China’s ambassador to Australia says Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun’s ‘lawful rights are protected’.

Detained Chinese-Australian author Yang Hengjun.

Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun remains in custody without being formally charged, almost a year after he was detained under suspicion of espionage.

China’s ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, confirmed on Thursday that Dr Yang would be ­officially charged after a lengthy investigation following his arrest in January. Mr Cheng said “the rele­vant Chinese security department will deal with the case in accordan­ce with Chinese law and his lawful rights are protected”.

He said Dr Yang’s wife, Yuan Xiaoliang, who has been banned from leaving China, would be protected­. “In due time, you will know the details,” he said.

Scott Morrison recently expressed “great concern” over the Chinese government’s treatment of Dr Yang, who has been isolated, shackled and interrogated daily in an effort to “break” him.

Asked about the conditions Dr Yang was facing, Mr Cheng describe­d the author’s health as being “in good condition”.

He said he expected Australia to respect China’s judicial sovereignty in relation to Beijing’s handling of Dr Yang’s case.

“We expect the Australian side to respect China’s … judicial sovereignty,” he said.

Dr Yang, who was arrested after flying into China from New York where he had been a visiting scholar at Columbia University, is a former official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing who later became a pro-democracy campaigner. He became an Australia­n citizen in 2002.

Dr Yang and the Australian government deny the espionage allegations.

The Prime Minister has said the government would continue to demand fair treatment for Dr Yang.

“Australia always has to stand up for our citizens and we have to be true to who we are as a people,” Mr Morrison said.

“The most recent consular ­access was a matter of great concer­n to me and the Foreign Minister (Marise Payne), and we will continue to make those ­representations on behalf of an Australian citizen.”