The government should make sure Beijing feels the “anguish and anger” of Australians towards its decision to hand a suspended death sentence to imprisoned citizen Yang Hengjun, says Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham.
On Feb. 5, the federal Labor government revealed that Mr. Yang, an Australian writer, was handed a suspended death sentence with a two-year probation period.
“The anguish and anger that exists across Australia should be made clear and felt in Beijing, and the expectations of Australia that he ought to receive treatment that ultimately enables his release and return to Australia need to continue to be made clear,” said Mr. Birmingham, in an interview with ABC on Feb. 6.
“Now, we will be seeking briefings in the normal course of events as an opposition to understand the behind-the-scenes steps and how these decisions can best be calibrated. But it is critical that we make sure Australia’s feelings are heard and that in no way in the days, weeks, months, or if need be, years ahead, should this case be allowed to slip from mind or from advocacy.”
His comments were echoed by the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who said it was time to “be frank” about the human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A ‘Reality Check’ on the Nature of the CCP
The sudden revelation of Mr. Yang’s circumstances came as a surprise across political circles, as talk of the “normalisation” of Australia-China ties has been ongoing for months.
Mr. Birmingham said it was a “reality check” on the nature of the CCP.
“This is a real reality check moment in relation to the relationship and underscoring the fact that we have vastly different systems of democracy and justice,” he said.
In another interview, the shadow minister explained that there was a lack of transparency in the process of sentencing Mr. Yang.
“Now he faces a sentence that indicates a lifetime of imprisonment, yet further compounding the unjust nature of the treatment to date,” he told Sky News.
“It (the sentence) also does nothing for Chinese people or people-to-people relations, in that it only further underscores some of the risks that come from doing business with, or engagement with a Chinese system that can apply the rule of law in such an unjust and seemingly arbitrary manner.”
Prime Minister’s Response
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian government had conveyed its frustration and outrage at Mr. Yang’s verdict to the CCP.“This is a very harsh sentence on Dr. Yang, who is a man who’s not in good health. And we will continue to make the strongest representations,” he told reporters.
Despite not explaining how Mr. Yang’s sentence would affect the relationship between Australia and China, the prime minister said his government would make its position clear to Beijing.
“We have said very clearly that we will cooperate with China where we can, but we'll disagree where we must. We must disagree with this harsh action by China,” he said.
“We will respond very directly to China. We'll respond directly and clearly and unequivocally to China.”
On Feb. 5, Jan Adams, the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, summoned Beijing’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, for an explanation about Mr. Yang’s sentence.
“The Australian Government has advocated for Dr. Yang with China at every opportunity, and at the highest levels. We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness, and humane treatment for Dr. Yang, in accordance with international norms and China’s legal obligations,” she added. “We will not relent in our advocacy.”
