Australia’s detained citizens in China must continue to be a topic of discussion, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Due to what Beijing alleges are espionage concerns, Australian residents Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun have been held in detention in China since 2020 and 2019, respectively.
As Australia is not a member of the G7, the Prime Minister is now serving as an outreach partner in Japan.
Calling out Beijing’s rapid economic and military expansionism has been one of the summit’s main themes.
Prior to being questioned about whether he had brought up the matter of the detained Australians, Mr. Albanese was questioned about other forms of coercion such arbitrary imprisonment.
He said on Sunday, “On every occasion we raise those issues.
Naturally, Cheng Lei, for instance, hasn’t even been able to communicate with her kids due to her detention.
“That’s inappropriate. Clarity is required. In order to protect the interests of our citizens, Australia will keep contacting China.
On August 13, 2020, Cheng Lei, a newsreader for CGTN, the English-language television station of the Chinese government, was abducted covertly from her home in Beijing.
Chinese authorities acknowledged that Ms. Cheng had been detained and accused of “illegally supplying state secrets overseas” six months later.
The mother-of-two was the subject of a secret court proceeding on March 31, 2022, at Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, the conclusion of which remains unknown.
The government of Albane has stepped up its diplomatic pressure on China, urging it to provide “basic standards of justice” and “humane treatment” in Ms. Cheng’s case.
Penny Wong, the foreign minister, lashed out at the “ongoing delays” and expressed “deep concerns” that Ms. Cheng is still waiting for action on her case in March.
Seven months after his initial detention, Yang Hengjun, an Australian citizen since 2002, was seized again and was again held in August 2019 on allegations of espionage.
The specifics of his case were never made public, and it was also heard in secret in May 2021.
The problem of both citizens was allegedly brought up by Western Australia’s premier, Mark McGowan, during a recent trip to China.
In a high-level meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, he admitted that he stressed the need of releasing both Australians.
Following James Paterson’s request for Australian politicians travelling to China to bring up the issue of Australians being held captive there, the announcement was made.
At the time, Mr. Paterson remarked that “every Australian who goes to China, who has the chance to meet with influential people in the Chinese government… should be raising the case of these Australians.”
To tell them that is someone else’s problem is insufficient. In particular, to the Australian detainees’ families, who are gravely upset by their loved ones’ long-term confinement.
Earlier this year, the opposition issued a statement urging Beijing to free Ms. Cheng, who had been held by Chinese officials for 1,000 days at the time.
