Melbourne/Beijing, August 27
Chinese-Australian writer and political commentator Yang Hengjun, who was detained by China in January, has been formally arrested on suspicion of spying, Beijing confirmed on Tuesday.
Yang (54) had been under investigation for “harming” China’s national security and was arrested on August 23 on suspicion of committing crimes of espionage. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said the government efforts to gain additional information had been difficult. “The government is very concerned and disappointed to learn that Australian citizen and academic Yang Hengjun was formally arrested in China on suspicion of espionage on 23 August and will continue to be criminally detained,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with Dr Yang and his family at this very difficult time. Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months. Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang’s detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits,” the minister was quoted as saying. — AFP
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2LavuBf
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
No comments: