Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian writer who has been imprisoned in China for over four years, expressed his fear of dying in jail after a substantial cyst was discovered on his kidney, CNN reports.
Yang, a dual Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist, was apprehended in 2019 during a visit to his family in China and charged with espionage, a claim he vehemently denies. His trial took place in secrecy in Beijing in 2021, but the verdict has been repeatedly postponed.
In a message conveyed to his supporters on the previous Thursday, Yang, 58, disclosed that he had been experiencing kidney discomfort and pain for several months. A recent medical examination revealed that he has a 10-centimeter cyst exerting pressure on his kidney, as stated in the message.
Yang expressed concerns about his health, indicating, "If something happens with my health and I die here, people outside won't know the truth. If something happens to me, who can speak for me?"
Yang's friend and former PhD supervisor, Feng Chongyi, called for the Australian government to collaborate with the international community in order to urge China to release Yang on medical parole. Feng Chongyi asserted that Yang's genuine "offense" is his advocacy for universal values like democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed that he intends to raise concerns about Yang's health during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in New Delhi. Albanese noted that his government consistently brings up issues concerning Australian citizens in discussions with international counterparts, including China.
When questioned about Yang's situation during a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin asserted that China adheres to the rule of law and emphasized that China's judicial procedures have been conducted in accordance with the law while ensuring the rights of all relevant parties.
Before his detention, Yang, who was born in China but spent much of his time in the United States, worked as an official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry. He held Australian citizenship and used to share satirical commentaries critical of the Chinese government with his nearly 130,000 followers on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Yang is one of two Australians currently detained in China. Another detainee, Cheng Lei, an Australian TV anchor associated with China's state broadcaster CGTN, is accused of illegally providing state secrets overseas and has been held for three years.
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