An Australian academic held in China for more than two years on spying charges was due to go on trial Thursday in a case that has fuelled a bitter row between the two nations over human rights, trade and national security.
The trial was set to be held behind closed doors but, in comments shared with media, Yang Jun maintained his innocence and vowed to “face suffering and torture with resilience”.
There was heavy security outside the Beijing courtroom on Thursday morning, with the area around the entrance cordoned off with tape and large numbers of police deployed.
Chinese-born Yang, 56, who also goes by the pen name of Yang Hengjun, is one of two high-profile Australians detained in China on charges of spying.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Thursday voiced deep concerns about China’s handling of Yang’s case.
“We have not seen any explanation or evidence for the charges that have been brought against him,” Payne told ABC radio, adding she had hoped the trial would be “transparent” with consular officials granted access.
But Australian ambassador Graham Fletcher was turned away from the courtroom when he arrived on Thursday.
“This is deeply regrettable, concerning and unsatisfying,” Fletcher told media outside the courtroom afterwards.
“We’ve long had concerns about this case, including a lack of transparency, and therefore conclude it to be an instance of arbitrary detention.”
Fletcher left the courthouse shortly afterwards. It was not immediately clear if Yang’s lawyer was with him, nor if the trial had started.
‘Suffering and torture’
Yang was arrested on a rare return to China in January 2019.
In a letter to supporters shared with AFP and other media, Yang said that his health had deteriorated after 26 months “without fresh air or sunshine”.
But he also said that he remained “spiritually strong” and vowed to “face suffering and torture with resilience”.
“I have no fear now,” he said in the message, believed to have been dictated through a consular visitor or lawyer.
“I love you all and I know that I am loved.”
Yang said in the message to his supporters that “if the worst comes to the worst, if someone wants to take revenge on me for my writings, please explain to the people inside China what I did, and the significance of my writing to people in China”.
China’s judicial system convicts most people who stand trial, and espionage charges can carry a sentence of life in prison.
Beijing has insisted Yang’s rights are being respected and accused Australia of interfering in a Chinese legal case.
Anger
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent years, with China furious over Australia banning Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from building the nation’s 5G network. Australia cited national security concerns for its decision.
China has also been angered over Australia’s push for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as criticism from Canberra over democracy and human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
China has in return imposed tariffs on Australian export worth billions of dollars, as well as cut off diplomatic channels between the two nations.
Both nations have accused each other of harassing citizens as a way of leverage in their disputes.
Another Australian, TV anchor Cheng Lei has been held since August last year on accusations of “supplying state secrets overseas”.
And two Australian journalists were rushed out of China shortly after, fearing being detained on spying charges.
Beijing has accused Canberra of raiding the homes of Chinese state media journalists as Australia investigates an alleged campaign of covert influence.
— AFP
