Pro-democracy activist Yang Hengjun has been in a Chinese prison for six years on espionage charges, during which he was given a suspended death sentence. His family worries for his health as he suffers from a large kidney cyst, raising fears that inadequate medical care could be life-threatening. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed the Australian government’s outrage regarding Yang’s treatment, highlighting serious concerns about his health and living conditions. She emphasised the need for Yang to receive necessary medical care and adhere to international standards of justice and humane treatment. Detained in January 2019 after returning from New York, Yang has consistently denied all charges against him. His trial, conducted behind closed doors, was plagued by delays, with the verdict announced only in February. Despite his deteriorating health, Yang did not appeal the sentence, believing that being in prison would provide him better access to medical attention than being outside. Concerns for his well-being have been a consistent issue during his detention.
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