Yang Hengjun isn’t the first time Australia’s interests collided with China. Can Canberra be tougher?

Australia’s belated show of disapproval in the detentions of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, as well as Uygur internment, did not go unnoticed

But the Yang case may generate so much concern about China’s actions that the Australian government is forced to show a tougher line, experts say

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Published: 1:57pm, 25 Jan 2019Updated: 8:31pm, 25 Jan 2019

When Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne expressed concern last month over China’s detention of two Canadian citizens, her intervention was seen by many as long overdue.

The December 10 detentions of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – widely seen as retaliation for Canada’s detention of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou – had already been challenged by the United States, Britain, the European Union, Germany and France. Australia’s belated statement on December 30 came only after pressure from local academics and former diplomats for a show of solidarity with its ally.

Weeks later, Australia is grappling with the detention of its own citizen, Yang Hengjun, as well as questions about whether it has been firm enough toward China, its biggest trading partner, when their interests and values have collided.

“They [Australian political leaders] weren’t as vocal as other countries over the detention of Canadians and were hesitant to come out criticising the internment of Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang,” said Alex Joske, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra. “So this should hopefully really be a reminder to the government that being quiet on these kinds of issues doesn’t do you much good and it’s important to take a confident values-based position when engaging with China.”

It’s important to take a confident values-based position when engaging with China

Alex Joske, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Yang, a novelist and former Chinese diplomat who has criticised Beijing, was detained on Saturday at Guangzhou airport after arriving on a flight from New York. Yang, who has condemned Chinese censorship and interference overseas, is reported to be under “residential surveillance” after being accused of endangering state security. Kovrig, a political analyst and former diplomat, and Spavor, a businessman with close links to North Korea, are being held on similar charges.

Australia’s belated statement on the detentions of Canadians Michael Kovrig (pictured) and Michael Spavor came only after pressure from local academics and former diplomats for a show of solidarity with its ally. Photo: AFP

“At present, the case is being handled according to law, and Yang Hengjun’s legitimate rights and interests have been fully guaranteed,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Thursday.

The latest detention has sparked fears that Beijing has broadened a campaign of retaliation against Canada – which arrested Meng at the request of the US for allegedly breaching sanctions against Iran – to include citizens of countries that support Ottawa.

“My judgment is that his arrest is directly linked to the hostage diplomacy by the Chinese government,” said Feng Chongyi, a friend of Yang, and associate professor at the University of Technology, Sydney.