China sentences Australian democratic blogger Yang Hengjun to life in prison with a suspended death penalty

China sentences Australian democratic blogger Yang Hengjun to life in prison with a suspended death penalty

A Chinese-born Australian democracy blogger received a suspended death sentence on Monday from a Chinese court. The Australian government expressed its disgust, having brought up his situation on many occasions over the years. Yang Hengjun was convicted guilty of spying and given a two-year sentence that included the death penalty, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. After two years, these sentences are often converted to life in prison. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a statement saying, "The Australian government is horrified."

"This is tragic news for Dr. Yang, his family, and everyone who embraced him." On January 19, 2019, Yang, a former Chinese ambassador and state security operative who later became an Australian political commentator and espionage thriller novelist, was arrested while traveling from New York to a city in southern China with his wife and a teenage son. had arrived in Guangzhou. Stepdaughter In May 2021, he was placed on trial in private. The specifics of his situation are yet unknown. After obtaining Australian citizenship in 2002, Yang has denied any involvement in spying for either the US or Australia.

Yang claimed to have not seen direct sunshine for almost four years in a letter he sent to his boys in August of last year. After learning he had a kidney cyst, he informed his family he thought he might die while being held in detention, which prompted supporters to call for his release so he could get medical care. According to the Australian Foreign Minister, Australia will "communicate our response in the strongest terms" and will keep pushing for their interests and well-being, including access to quality medical treatment.

The court has safeguarded Yang's procedural rights and made arrangements for the Australian side to attend Monday's sentence, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang. Wang may be alluding to a diplomat or diplomats from the Australian Embassy. After serving more than three years in prison in China for violating a restriction on television broadcasting on a state TV network, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was freed in October of last year. The predicament of Yang and Cheng has been a regular topic of discussion in high-level talks between the two nations in recent years.