TRANSCRIPT
It has been five long years for family, friends and allies of Dr Yang Hengjun, an Australian citizen who has now been detained for half a decade by China on vague charges.
The Australian writer and democracy activist was arrested at an airport in 2019 and charged with espionage, although Chinese authorities have still been unable to provide evidence of his offences.
Two and a half years since a secret trial was held in May of 2021, his court verdict continues to be repeatedly delayed, leaving him effectively in limbo.
Dr Feng Chongyi is Dr Yang's close-friend and former PhD supervisor at the University of Technology Sydney and he now works as an Associate Professor in China Studies at the university.
He says at the time of his arrest in Beijing, Hengjun was in good condition but his health has since gone rapidly downhill.
"At that time was very healthy, middle aged man, but after terrible torture and five years detention in harsh condition, he has taken very heavy toll on his health. Now he suffers a lot of disease, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and especially recently with the kidney disease."
Human rights organisations say Dr Yang has endured hundreds of interrogations, is held in inhumane conditions with a lack of sunlight and with severely restricted access to his lawyer.
Nikita White an international issues campaigner for Amnesty International Australia says all signs point to Dr Yang's imprisonment being politically-motivated.
"We've seen nothing to substantiate China's claims that he is a spy and Dr Yang has consistently denied these allegations. There's been no evidence provided publicly. And from all accounts from what we can see, this is politically motivated it is because he is an advocate for democracy and a critic of the Chinese government."
Foreign minister Penny Wong has released a new statement re-affirming the Australian government's calls on China for fair and transparent treatment of Dr Yang.
"The Australian Government remains deeply troubled by the ongoing delays in his case... I want to acknowledge the strength that Dr Yang has demonstrated, and the strength of his family and friends. Our thoughts are with them all... The Australian Government will continue to advocate for Dr Yang’s interests and wellbeing at the highest levels, including for the appropriate medical treatment, and provide consular assistance to him and his family."
Six months ago a large, 10-centimetre cyst on Dr Yang's kidney was found and he wrote to his family telling them that he believes his life may now be at risk.
Dr Feng says he is very concerned for his friend's life.
"He may need a major operation to save his life, but the Chinese authority did not allow for medical parole to have proper treatment, so that's why he told his wife and his son he may die in prison. It's a terrible, terrible situation."
The opposition spokesman for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson told SBS News that China's treatment of the Australian citizen has been unacceptable.
"We're gravely concerned about the welfare of Dr. Yang Hengjun as an Australian citizen. He has been detained for five years now, we still do not know exactly what he is accused or what crime he has supposedly committed. And he still has not been given a sentence for whatever it is that the Chinese Communist Party believes he's does. His health is in very dire circumstances. And we are very worried that he is continuing to degrade while he is detained in solitary confinement in China. This is a mistreatment of an Australian citizen, it is not acceptable, and the Chinese Communist Party should release him and allow him to return home to Australia with his family."
Last Wednesday, in a rare press conference, Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian chose to downplay concerns over Dr Yang's health saying reports from his family are overblown.
"I double checked with my colleagues from the relevant authorities that Mr. Yang is - in general terms - in relatively good health conditions. He has a health problem but these health problems are not as serious as what has been publicly described by family members. We have professional doctors that have been monitoring very closely his health conditions regularly. And the conclusion is that he has some health problems, but these health problems are not as serious as has been public described."
Senator James Paterson, has told SBS News that these remarks from the ambassador are unacceptable.
"I was very alarmed and concerned by the statements by the ambassador downplaying the seriousness of Dr. Young's condition and the way in which he's been treated. That is a very bad signal and it's very important that the Albanese government redouble its efforts to make clear important this case is to Australia and how difficult it be to have a stabilized or normalized relationship with China in the absence of a successful resolution."
The treatment of Yang Hengjun has become a diplomatic obstacle in the China-Australia relationship as the Albanese government has been attempting to thaw icy relations developed under the former Morrison government to address trade barriers.
Chinese trade restrictions remain in place on Australian wine, beef and lobster, with a review of wine tariffs by China set to conclude in March.
Despite these considerations, the federal opposition has repeatedly called upon the Albanese government to hold China to account for its human rights record and pursuing the release of Australian citizens such as Dr Yang.
Last October, Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei was released after three years of detention following similarly ambiguous charges.
However, the Chinese ambassador says he does not expect Mr Yang's case to have the same outcome as Ms Cheng.
"The case of Cheng Lei is a case of violation of Chinese laws and regulations and even professional obligations that she was sentenced for and she was deported and the case is over. The Yang Hengjun case is very much a case different in nature from the case of Cheng Lei to be honest, I cannot expect that the case would come to such a conclusion likewise, but we're now in the legal process."
So five years later, Yang Hengjun remains in Chinese prison without a verdict and his family and loved ones wait with baited breath for new developments.
His friend, Dr Feng says the Australian government needs to act urgently to apply pressure on Beijing to ensure his timely release.
"Because Yang is innocent, we know from day one. And because Yang is in such a poor health, the Australian government should make it a top priority to get him back."
