The sons of Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun have written a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, urging him to do everything in his power to save their father’s life and bring him back to Australia. Yang, who has been detained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for nearly five years on charges of espionage, which he denies, is said to be in declining health. Inspired by the recent release of journalist Cheng Lei, his sons are hoping for a “second miracle” and are calling on Albanese, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Ambassador Graham Fletcher, to intervene during Albanese’s upcoming visit to Beijing.
The sons emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting that the prime minister will be in close proximity to the prison where their father is held. They requested that Albanese make it clear that it is impossible to stabilize the bilateral relationship with a government that continues to detain an Australian citizen. Albanese’s visit to China, scheduled from November 4 to 7, will be the first by an Australian prime minister since 2016.
According to a consular report shared with the family, Yang’s health has rapidly declined, and he is in a critical state. The report described his worsening physical condition, including weight loss, paleness, and difficulty walking. The sons revealed that their father, who lives for reading and writing, has been deprived of both activities during his time in prison. They noted that only recently have some letters from family and friends been delivered, possibly due to the upcoming visit of the prime minister.
In a letter from jail, Yang expressed his innocence and lamented being locked up for more than four years without a conviction. He emphasized the importance of freedom of expression and criticized the Chinese regime for suppressing opinions and criticisms, which he believes hinder progress and improvement. Yang, a pro-democracy writer, moved to Australia in 1999 and has been known for his writings against political corruption in Beijing.
Supporters of Yang argue that he is being politically persecuted by the CCP due to his human rights advocacy. Albanese’s visit to China, where he plans to meet with CCP leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, provides an opportunity to raise the issue of Yang’s detention. Albanese confirmed that the Australian government consistently raises concerns about Australian citizens in meetings with Chinese officials. Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham stressed the need for progress in Yang’s case in order to stabilize the Australia-China relationship in the eyes of Australians.