Detained Australian's family issues plea ahead of Albanese's China trip
Yang Hengjun's detention remains a sticking point in bilateral ties ahead of Anthony Albanese's landmark visit to China.
One of the remaining sticking points in the fast improving relationship between Australia and China has moved into focus ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China later this week. The sons of Australian writer Yang Hengjun have expressed grave concerns over his rapidly deteriorating health in Chinese detention and urged the prime minister “save our father’s life”.
In a letter addressed to the prime minister, the two sons said their father, who has spent four years and nine months in Chinese detention, had collapsed several times, was all but bedridden and had trouble walking even a few metres to use the toilet in his cell, according to a report from a recent consular visit.
“This report shows a system that is jeopardising the health of an Australian citizen in the prime of his life, who may be dying,” the letter, provided by the family to the media, said. “We request that you do all in your power to save our father’s life and return him immediately to family and freedom in Australia.”
Yang’s detention remains a sticking point in a bilateral relationship that has steadily improved in the lead up to Albanese’s four day visit to Beijing and Shanghai, which begins on Saturday. The visit marks the 50th anniversary of the first visit to China by an Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, and is also the first prime ministerial visit since Malcolm Turnbull in 2016.
