Australian Citizen Receives ‘Suspended Death Sentence’ from Beijing after Making Threats Against Taiwan
‘The Australian government will be communicating our response in the strongest terms,’ said Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.
Australian citizen and writer, Yang Hengjun, has received a suspended death sentence after being detained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the last five years.
However, the government said the sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment after two years if Mr. Yang did not commit any serious crimes during the period—essentially closing the door on any hopes of Mr. Yang’s return to Australia.
Mr. Yang, a novelist and pro-democracy writer who immigrated to Australia in 1999, was arrested by the CCP in 2019 on alleged espionage charges, which he has strongly denied.
The writer was subject to a closed trial on May 27, 2021; however, his verdict and sentence have been repeatedly delayed.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong expressed condolences to Mr. Yang’s family after hearing the news.
“Our thoughts are with them. I acknowledge the acute distress they will all be feeling after many years of uncertainty.”
Nevertheless, the minister said the Australian government would protest the sentence and take action to protect Mr. Yang’s interest.
“The Australian government will be communicating our response in the strongest terms,” she said.
“We will continue to press for Dr. Yang’s interests and well-being, including appropriate medical treatment, and provide consular assistance to him and his family.”
“All Australians want to see Dr. Yang reunited with his family. We will not relent in our advocacy.”
The CCP had previously labelled Mr. Lai a “separatist” and a “troublemaker” for his strong stance against the communist regime prior to the Jan. 13 election.
Following Mr. Lai’s victory, Xiao Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, warned in mid-January that the “Australian people would be pushed over the edge of an abyss” if the country built up ties with the new Taiwanese government.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham for comment but has yet to receive a reply in time for publication.
Rex Widerstrom contributed to this article.