Chinese courts sentenced Australian academic Yang Hengjun to suspended execution for spying after five years in prison. The Shandong court sentenced women’s rights activist Li Qiaochu to three years and eight months for “inciting subversion of state power” the same day.
Gwangzhou airport arrested Yang Hengjun in 2019 for spying for an undisclosed government. Australia-born Chinese pro-democracy blogger, 57. Unknown verdict from May 2021 Beijing one-day, closed-door trial.
Yang’s family was appalled by the court’s “extreme end of worst expectations” sentencing, a spokesman said.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the government was “appalled by this decision” and had summoned the Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, to protest “in the strongest terms” on Monday.
Wong said the Australian government supported Yang “at every opportunity and at the highest levels.”.
Dr. Yang will receive Australian aid, Wong said. All Australians want Dr. Yang’s family.
Monday’s execution includes a two-year reprieve. Good behavior decreases death sentences to 25 years or life after two years. Chinese excel despite inadequate data. Few unknown Chinese courts overturn 99.9% convictions.
Chongyi Feng, Yang’s Australian PhD supervisor and case advocate, anticipated life in prison. Calling his ex-student’s punishment “outrageous political persecution.”
Doctor Yang Hengjun didn’t snitch. China is punishing him for speaking out against human rights violations and promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China director, said Li was tried for expressing beliefs the Chinese government wants to suppress, which could overturn it. Xi Jinping’s China threatens peaceful human rights.
Li helps Xu Zhiyong, a Chinese human rights campaigner in prison.
In prison since December 2019, she’s been there since February 16, 2020. August parolee Li will appeal Monday’s verdict.
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Wong informed the media there were appeals, but Feng stated Yang was sick. Abuse and arbitrary incarceration for five years harmed him. His situation is critical.”
Feng requested that Australia quickly repatriate Yang for medical treatment, possibly parole.
Yang’s detention harms China-Australia relations. Australian journalist Cheng Lei served three years in national security prison last year. Insiders say Yang’s release was harder than expected despite Australian lobbying and official relations.
Wong condemned the penalty, but the foreign minister said it was “within China’s legal system” and did not hurt Australia-China relations.
We cooperate where we can, argue when necessary, and stabilize the nation. Clearly, we differ. Australia backs Dr. Yang.”
Yang’s children petitioned Anthony Albanese for his release before the PM’s China visit in November.
“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,” they wrote. Our father’s innocent.
He was interrogated 300 times in 18 months, including six months of torture. They kept him awake, shackled his wrists and ankles, and seated him in a chair for days until he couldn’t walk.
“No confession yet… Defending truth, democracy, and reason got him jailed.
Australian opposition foreign minister Simon Birmingham termed the punishment “a reminder of the risks that apply in doing business or engaging with China” and asked Beijing to release Yang Hengjun under “maximum appropriate pressure.”.
Human Rights Watch Australia director Daniela Gavshon termed Yang’s sentence “catastrophic.”.
Gavshon said, “A sentence as severe as this is alarming after years of arbitrary detention, allegations of torture, and a closed and unfair trial without his own lawyers.”
Canberra was instructed to join a “coalition” with other arbitrarily jailed Chinese nationals to support the law and free the unfairly incarcerated.
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