Canberra:An Australian writer of Chinese origin has been arrested on suspicion of espionage in China, where he has been detained since the beginning of the year, the Canberra government confirmed on Tuesday.
Yang Hengjun, a former Chinese Foreign Ministry official, was detained in Guangzhou in January during a stopover on his way to Australia and had since been held without charge, media reported.
"The Government is very concerned and disappointed to learn that Australian citizen and academic Yang Hengjun was formally arrested in China on suspicion of espionage on August 23," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
"Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months. Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Yang's detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits," she added.