25 Jan 2019

China tensions: 'I wouldn't be rushing to Beijing'

From Morning Report, 8:27 am on 25 January 2019

Australia has issued a please explain to China about why it took three days to tell the Australian government it had detained one of its citizens. The Chinese-Australian writer and political commentator Yang Hengjun disappeared after arriving at Guangzhou airport last week. China has now confirmed he is in what's called residential detention. Analysts believe this is part of a Chinese Government strategy to get even with the West for the detention of a top Huawei executive in Canada. Mr Yang is the latest person to be caught up in an ongoing feud between China and other Five Eyes nations which have banned Huawei from mobile phone projects because of fears the latest 5G technology could be used by the Chinese government for spying. Geremie Barmé is a China expert and Australian National University Emeritus Professor. He talks to Guyon Espiner.