Australian writer Yang Hengjun has been detained in China for almost five years. Now his family fear there is a narrowing window of opportunity to secure his release.
Emergency warnings are in place for fires burning near Tenterfield, Cooks Gap and Stanthorpe, NSW; Wallangarra, Dalveen and south of Bundaberg, QLD.The family of an Australian writer Yang Hengjun, detained for more than four years in China on suspicion of spying, has penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, pleading for him to do "all in his power" to secure their father's release ahead of a high-level visit to Beijing.
Mr Albanese will hold talks with China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during a four-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai next week.'Situation critical': Family says there is a small window of opportunity to act Dr Yang's children have shared excerpts of a consular report which noted a rapid decline in his health.In August, the Chinese-born Australian citizen was told he had 10-centimetre cyst on his kidney but his children say he was provided no further detail.
"It's morally indefensible position to fully normalise relations with China when the CCP has kept Yang Hengjun as a hostage," he said.Professor Fengyi says while he is hopeful the release of Cheng Lei may signal a shift from the Chinese authorities, Dr Yang's case is far more complicated. "We have raised concerns including at meetings I have had in the past with President Xi," Mr Albanese said.
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