Overview

• Yang Hengjun, detained in China since 2019 on espionage charges he denies, sent a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marking six years of imprisonment.
• In the letter, Yang thanked Australian officials, including Ambassador Scott Dewar, for their support and efforts to secure his release and medical care.
• Yang, sentenced in February 2024 to a suspended death penalty with a two-year reprieve, has voiced fears of dying in prison due to worsening health conditions and inadequate treatment.
• Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Australia's commitment to advocating for Yang's wellbeing and eventual repatriation during high-level diplomatic engagements with China.
• The case underscores tensions in Sino-Australian relations and highlights global concerns about China's opaque legal system and human rights practices.