“This has not occurred. The government has expressed concern about Dr Yang’s welfare and the conditions under which he is held,” Payne said.

China finally charges dissident Australian dual national: lawyer

Payne also said she had still not received clarification as to why Yang, also known as Yang Jun, was being held.

“If he is being detained for his political views, then he should be released,” she said.

“Foreign Minister Payne’s statement clearly reflects frustration and disappointment at China’s opaque and politically motivated detention of Dr Yang,” said Alex Joske, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Clive Hamilton, the author of Silent Invasion: China’s Influence in Australia, said the government’s statement represented a “significant toughening of the language Australia has been using on this and similar issues”.

“The world is starting to realise that Beijing’s tantrum diplomacy is a sign of weakness,” he said.

China slams ABC over Xinjiang report, universities investigate claims

China deplores the statement made by the Australian foreign minister and urges the Australian side not to interfere in China’s lawful handling of the case in any way and stop issuing irresponsible remarks,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday.

On Thursday, Chongyi Feng, a friend of Yang’s and associate professor at the University of Technology, criticised the Australian government for failing to publicly lobby for the Australian citizen’s release, accusing Canberra of being afraid of offending its biggest trading partner.

Yang, an author, blogger and democracy advocate, had been held in a secret location since being detained in January soon after making a rare return to China from his current residence in the United States. The foreign ministry in Beijing said then he was suspected of endangering “China’s national security” – which often implies espionage allegations.

Yang’s friends and associates have accused Beijing of targeting the former diplomat, who previously worked at the Chinese foreign ministry, for political reasons. Yang, who emigrated to Australia in the 1990s, was once described as China’s “most influential political blogger” for writings that included criticisms of Beijing’s suppression of democracy and alleged interference overseas.

“The People’s Republic of China authorities would have been aware that the Australian government was striving to take an understated approach, in the face of widespread criticism, including by Yang’s supporters, that it should be more vocal,” Laurenceson said.

“Yet still basic standards of justice failed to be applied. The experience and outcome of this case will inevitably factor into Australian government thinking going forward. It will also do nothing to arrest the decline in Australian public sentiment towards the PRC more generally,” he said.

Until this week, Yang was being held under “residential surveillance at a designated location, a form of detention that allows authorities to hold people for serious crimes.

Payne confirmed on Friday that he had been transferred to a criminal detention centre.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters on Thursday that Yang’s case remained under investigation.“The Chinese national security department handles the case in strict accordance with the law and fully protects Yang Jun’s lawful rights,” he said.

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