Australian government officials and human rights groups are concerned about the deteriorating health of Yang Hengjun, a high-profile journalist, blogger, and author. Three years ago, the Chinese-born Australian national was arrested in a port city slightly northwest of Hong Kong; his health has been swiftly declining as he awaits the verdict of his espionage trial that took place over eight months ago. A report from Bloomberg states that the writer has been experiencing extreme dizzy spells, high blood pressure, gout, and high uric acid. Tests indicate that he has dangerous levels of creatinine in his bloodstream which can lead to kidney malfunction.

Yang’s family released a statement with further details about his condition. Without medical attention, his family is concerned he will die. According to Yang’s last correspondence with them, he is consistently tortured by the prison guards, accelerating his decline. “Yang must not be left to die through medical neglect and mistreatment, like so many other writers and public intellectuals who are passionately committed to a better future for the Chinese people,” the family said.

Yang’s captivity has drawn significant international attention. Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, urged Chinese authorities to release Yang and allow him to return to Australia. She also stated her “extreme concern” for Yang’s health and called for medical assistance to be delivered to him immediately. A report from The Wire, an Indian independent media organization, reports that Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that “China firmly opposes the unjustifiable obstruction by the Australian side.” Zhao claims that “judicial authorities handled the case in strict accordance with the law, [and] fully protected Yang Hengjun’s litigation rights.” Bloomberg writes that Beijing closed the trial details to Australia’s envoy last year.

Yang’s arrest was announced in August 2019, though he was detained in Guangzhou several months before. His arrest was based on accusations that he was commissioned by either Australia or the United States to spy on the Chinese state. Bloomberg notes that before his detainment Yang wrote professionally about Chinese democracy and United States politics; he also published a series of spy books. “When I was outside, one of my objectives was to advocate for rule of law. I didn’t believe that I would end up becoming a victim of rule by power,” Yang said.

The complex relations between Australia and China frame Yang’s detainment. Foreign Policy writes that “Australia-China relations have long been marked by a fundamental tension.” Political dissonance intensified significantly in 2019, coincidentally the same year Yang was detained. This was prompted by China’s imposition of stiff trade sanctions on Australian imports. Later in 2020, China was angered by Australia’s proposal of an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. “When Australia had the temerity to call for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, China was incensed,” according to the report from Foreign Policy. China responded with extreme trade restrictions that significantly halted Australian exports. The two countries have historically been economically integrated, as Australia produces many of the materials that China’s manufacturing economy is built on. Severing this dimension of their diplomacy inflamed tensions that they have yet to recover from.

Regardless of the legacy of geopolitical dissonance, Australia must take decisive action to save Yang’s life and stand against the inhumane treatment of international prisoners. Australia’s Human Rights Watch director, Elaine Pearson, said the Australian government needs to investigate other creative strategies to advocate for Yang and pressure the Chinese government. Pearson says that releasing statements and simply “calling for” Yang to be discharged is not enough. “International pressure needs to come, in terms of democracies working together to hold the Chinese government to account,” she said. Meaningful international advocacy is more urgent than ever, as Yang’s health is deteriorating rapidly. Perhaps more chilling is the fact that Yang is a representation of hundreds of unknown journalists that have also been ruthlessly persecuted by the Chinese state.