Australian writer Yang Hengjun has received a suspended death sentence in China, almost five years after he was initially arrested.
The government was appalled at the news, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said.
“This is harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him,” she said.
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“Our thoughts are with them. I acknowledge the acute distress they will all be feeling, after many years of uncertainty.”
Yang was first detained in 2019 over espionage charges.
The case against him has never been publicly disclosed, and his trial was held in secret in May 2021.
His verdict had been plagued by continuous delays, having been postponed more than eight times since the conclusion of his trial.
The government will continue to press for Yang’s interests and wellbeing.
