The novelist and academic, Yang Hengjun, was arrested in China in 2019 and charged with espionage. He has very recently been given a suspended death sentence. His health is failing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/world/asia/australian-writer-yang-china-death-sentence.html
https://apnews.com/article/china-australia-yang-hengjun-sentence-b20bd2b0a5704b10fcff16cdfdd699ed
February 10, 2024
His Excellency Xi Jinping
President
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017
People’s Republic of China
Your Excellency:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are writing a third time regarding our increased concern over the treatment of Dr. Yang Hengjun, a former Chinese official who immigrated to Australia. Yang, who obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), is an author of fiction. He wrote three novels that involved, in part, glamorized depictions of a battle between the MSS and the CIA that were not intended to represent reality. In addition, he wrote blog posts that were critical of the Chinese government. He was arrested at a Chinese airport in 2019 and charged with espionage. In 2021, Yang was then given a closed door trial, which barred attendance by the Australian ambassador. On February 5th, 2024, Yang was given a suspended death sentence.
Since we last wrote a letter regarding his arrest, Yang Hengjun has been subjected to years of imprisonment without fresh air or sunlight, as well as countless interrogations. His children report that Yang collapsed at one point. He also has a large cyst growing on his kidney. His situation is medically dangerous and existentially awful, even if the suspended death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment.
A death sentence, suspended or not, is profound and unwarranted in Yang’s situation. We urge you to re-examine this sentence, and ask the courts to sentence Yang to time served, with immediate release. Moreover, given the recent elucidation of Yang’s medical condition, we also urge you to quickly order comprehensive medical attention for him.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Ambassador Xie Feng
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
3505 International Place, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 495-2266
Fax: (202)495 -2138
Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn OR chineseembassyspokesperson@gmail.com