Beijing’s top envoy to Australia has attempted to drive a wedge into Australia’s growing ties with Japan by criticising his Japanese counterpart in Canberra and warning Australians against trusting their former World War Two enemy lest Japan launch another military attack on the country in the future. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian made the comments during a…

The partner of detained Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei has accused Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian of lying when he said the journalist had access to her family. Speaking at Australia’s National Press Club on Aug. 10, Xiao said the basic rights of Australian citizens detained in China were protected. “There are a couple of…

The partner of Cheng Lei, a Chinese-Australian journalist, detained in China for almost two years, has raised concerns about Cheng’s declining health and the suspension of consular visits. Nick Coyle, the outgoing CEO of the Australian China Chamber of Commerce, revealed that monthly consular visits and regular 30-minute video meetings between his partner Cheng and Australian…

SYDNEY—Australian blogger Yang Hengjun, who is facing trial in Beijing for alleged espionage charges, has asked the judge to exclude evidence obtained during interrogations in which he says he was tortured, according to a message conveyed to family and friends. In his first comments since Thursday’s court hearing, which was closed to family and Australian…

Australian Ambassador to China Graham Fletcher has been denied entry to the closed court trial of Australian writer Yang Hengjun which began in Beijing today. “Unfortunately, we’ve just been denied entry into the court,” Fletcher told reporters outside the Beijing Second Intermediate Court on Thursday. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (novel coronavirus) pandemic was…