The trial of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, detained in Beijing since January 2019, has been delayed by three months, according to his former teacher and a supporter Feng Chongyi.
The 55-year-old pro-democracy blogger, who was detained at Guangzhou Airport after arriving from New York, faces a lengthy jail sentence after Chinese authorities charged him with endangering national security by joining or accepting a mission from an unidentified espionage organisation.
A trial before the Beijing Second Intermediate People’s Court had been due to begin by January, but has been delayed, Sydney-based Dr Feng told Reuters.
Dr Yang has previously said he would not confess to something that he had not done.
“Yang’s refusal to confess in spite of 300 rounds of interrogation does cause real difficulties for the confession-based legal system,” Dr Feng said.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Dr Yang was a former Chinese spy, who had worked in Hong Kong and Washington, before leaving the service to become a democracy advocate, according to a confidential letter he wrote to Dr Feng in 2011.
He wrote spy novels that were published in Taiwan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not respond to detailed questions from SBS News about Dr Yang's case, citing privacy obligations.
But the department said it continues to provide consular assistance and support to Dr Yang and his family, and DFAT officials last visited him on 17 December.
Dr Yang is among several Australians, including TV anchor Cheng Lei, detained by Chinese authorities.
