Australia criticizes "arbitrary detention" of academic in China
The Chinese-born Australian writer and scholar began trial on Thursday, May 27, but the court decided to postpone the trial and sentencing.
AFP - NICOLAS ASFOURI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
After the judgment statement was postponed in the Beijing-based espionage trial of Yang Jun, the Australian foreign minister on Friday denounced the “
arbitrary detention
” of the Chinese-born Australian scholar and writer.
Publicity
Read more
"
Given our enduring concerns in this case, including the lack of details regarding the charges and the investigation into what was provided to Dr Yang and Australia, we believe this is an example arbitrary detention of an Australian citizen
, ”said Marise Payne, Australian Foreign Minister on Friday (May 28th).
The trial of the Chinese-born Australian, also known by his pen name Yang Hengjun, began on Thursday, but the court has decided to postpone the trial and sentencing, according to a statement from Australian Minister Marise Payne.
Despite asking to attend, the Australian ambassador was denied access to the trial.
A "
closed and opaque
" approach, lamented the minister.
Australian journalist also detained in China
Yang Jun, who has been detained since 2019, is one of two Australians jailed in China on high-profile espionage charges, amid escalating tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
The other is an Australian presenter of the Chinese channel CGTN,
Cheng Lei
, detained since August for having "
provided state secrets abroad
".
The Australian minister said embassy officials met with Yang Jun on Friday (May 28th) to provide support and that they will continue to demand respect for his legal rights.
“
These are established principles of the legal process.
Asking for their respect does not amount to interfering in the Chinese legal system
, ”she said.
Regeneration of tension
Diplomatic relations between China and Australia have
deteriorated sharply
since Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic and excluded Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from the construction of Australia's 5G network.
China introduced tariffs and disrupted the activity of a dozen key industries, such as wine, barley and coal, causing trade to collapse.
In September, two Australian journalists rushed out of China after being questioned by police about Cheng Lei.
Beijing has also criticized Canberra for raiding the homes of Chinese journalists working for Chinese state media in Australia, where an investigation is underway into a supposed campaign of occult influence.
(with AFP)
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Australia
China
Human rights
Justice
On the same subject
New tension between China and Australia
Australian writer detained and tried in China on espionage charges