Australia 'appalled' after China hands writer suspended death sentence

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says ambassador summoned over Yang Hengjun case

20240205 china writer court

A Chinese national flag waves outside the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court where Australian writer Yang Hengjun faced trial on espionage charges in May 2021. © Reuters

SHAUN TURTON, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- Australia has summoned China's ambassador to express its concerns after a Chinese court on Monday handed Australian writer and democracy activist Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence.

The sentence, delivered by a court in Beijing, comes more than five years after the 58-year-old was detained at Guangzhou's main airport in 2019 and almost three years after his closed-door trial in May 2021 over alleged espionage.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.