Australian spy novelist Yang Hengjun held in China in state security investigation
- Former Chinese diplomat, 53, in residential detention in Beijing, Canberra says
- Friends say they have not heard from Yang since he flew into south China airport on Saturday
Australian writer and former Chinese diplomat Yang Hengjun has been detained in China for allegedly endangering state security, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Yang was detained in Beijing by the Ministry of State Security, and China had notified the Australian embassy.
Earlier, Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said Yang, 53, was in “residential detention” in Beijing.
“We would describe it as home detention but, as Mr Yang doesn’t have a home in Beijing, I assume he’s being held in a similar kind of situation, as opposed to being held in prison,” Pyne said in the Chinese capital on the first day of an official visit.
“My understanding is it’s in Beijing.”
Yang, a spy novelist and online commentator, flew into Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China from New York on Saturday, and was planning to take another flight to Shanghai. His friends said they lost contact with him after his arrival in Guangzhou.