CANBERRA, Australia: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his intention to address the situation of a detained democracy blogger during his upcoming state visit to China.
Albanese indicated that he had authorized a draft letter to be sent to the sons of Yang Hengjun, who has been held in Chinese custody since 2019.
Expressing empathy for the family’s concerns, Albanese stated that we deeply understand the apprehensions they harbour for their father, as this Australian citizen has been in detention for a protracted period. This comes in response to the sons’ release of a letter, dated October 28, in which they emphasized a “narrow window of opportunity” prior to Albanese’s departure for China to secure their father’s release. They requested that he convey their message that the bilateral relationship cannot be stabilized while an Australian citizen remains detained so close to his host city, Beijing.
The sons also shared their recent receipt of the first letter their father was allowed to send from detention, in which Yang conveyed, “I’m sick, I’m weak, I’m dying.” Yang, a former employee of China’s Ministry of State Security, awaits a verdict following a closed-door trial on espionage charges in May 2021.
It is worth noting that Yang’s sons, aged 24 and 31, have refrained from public identification to avoid potential repercussions for their father’s activities, as affirmed by family friend Feng Chongyi. Feng suggested that Albanese’s historic visit to China, the first by an Australian Prime Minister in seven years, could provide a significant opportunity for Yang. Feng stated, It’s not the last chance, but it’s the best chance, adding that the visit symbolizes a full normalization of relations between the two nations.
Albanese’s three-day visit, commencing this Saturday, includes meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, as well as participation in the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Notably, this visit signifies an improvement in bilateral relations since Albanese’s center-left government came to power after nine years of conservative rule.
During a previous meeting with President Xi on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia a year ago, Albanese raised the cases of both Yang and another detained Australian, journalist Cheng Lei. Cheng was deported last month, a move seen by many as paving the way for Albanese’s visit.
The sons of Yang expressed hope, inspired by Cheng’s release, that Australian authorities could achieve a second miracle by securing their father’s freedom. In response to questions about Cheng’s case, Albanese remarked, “Every case is… different.”
