Australian writer to be tried on espionage charges in China

As relations with China have nose-dived, Beijing has blocked Australian exports including beef, wine, coal, lobsters, wood and barley.

Yang Hengjun and his wife Yuan Xiaoliang (Chongyi Feng/AP)

Australian writer and blogger Yang Hengjun will be tried by a Chinese court on espionage charges on Thursday amid deteriorating relations between the countries, officials have said.

Yang has been held since arriving in China in January 2019 and has had no access to family and only limited contact with his legal representation, according to Australian foreign minister Marise Payne.