An Australian writer detained in Beijing on espionage allegations is expected to face court on 27 May, more than two years after he was first arrested.
Pro-democracy blogger Yang Hengjun, who denies his charges, was arrested in January 2019 after he arrived at Guangzhou airport from New York.
SBS News has confirmed that he will be tried next week, after Chinese authorities last year formally charged him with endangering national security.
Dr Yang's trial had been due to start in January but has been delayed by four months.
His former teacher Feng Chongyi, who is in Sydney, has separately confirmed that Chinese authorities informed the Australian embassy of a 27 May court date.
"It will be a closed-door trial," Dr Feng told Reuters.
The 55-year-old faces a lengthy jail sentence if found guilty on charges of endangering national security by joining or accepting a mission from an unidentified espionage organisation.c.
In a statement on Friday night, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Chinese authorities have not provided any explanation or evidence for the charges facing Dr Yang despite repeated requests from Australia.
He has had no access to his family and limited access to legal representation, Senator Payne said.
“We have conveyed to Chinese authorities, in clear terms, the concerns we have about Dr Yang’s treatment and the lack of procedural fairness in how his case has been managed,” Senator Payne said.
“Consistent with basic standards of justice and China’s international legal obligations, we expect Dr Yang to be granted access to his lawyer and to Australian consular officials in advance of his trial.”
Senator Payne said Australian officials must be permitted access to Dr Yang’s hearing.
“This has been a closed and opaque process to date. As a basic standard of justice, access to the trial for observers should be a bare minimum to conform with international norms of transparency,” she said.
China’s Australian embassy said Senator Payne's remarks were "deplorable".
"China has repeatedly made clear its position on the case concerning relevant Australian citizen," it said in a statement. "Chinese judicial authorities handle the case strictly in accordance with law and fully protect the lawful rights of the relevant person.
"The Australian side should respect China’s judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in any form in Chinese judicial authorities’ lawful handling of the case."
Labor Senate leader Penny Wong said Dr Yang's treatment was "concerning".
"We remain deeply concerned that Chinese authorities have failed to provide any explanation or evidence for the charges facing Dr Yang," Senator Wong said in a statement.
"We strongly support the Government’s advocacy for Dr Yang, including through consular assistance, and are disappointed that he has not received basic standards of justice or procedural fairness consistent with China’s international legal obligations.
"China also has obligations under the Australia-China bilateral consular agreement.
"This means Australian officials should be permitted access to Dr Yang’s hearing on 27 May."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said it is "absolutely untrue" Dr Yang had acted as a spy for Australia.
Dr Yang told his family in a message in September that he was innocent and would "never confess to something I haven't done".
He that he felt stronger than ever and had confidence the Chinese court system would deliver him "justice".
Another Australian, journalist Cheng Lei, was in February after being detained without charge for more than six months.
She was suddenly detained on 13 August last year and later accused of broad "national security" offences.
With Reuters and AAP.
