Australia on Wednesday hit out at China's apparent decision to indict a prominent author on spying charges, insisting he is at risk from COVID-19 and must be freed.

Chinese-Australian writer Yang Jun -- also known by his pen name Yang Hengjun -- was detained over a year ago, soon after making a rare return to China from the United States.

Australia said it had not been formally notified of the espionage indictment, but slammed China for a lack of solidarity during the global coronavirus pandemic -- which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

"It is not in the spirit of mutual respect and trust that our continued advocacy for Dr Yang has not been acknowledged," said foreign affairs minister Marise Payne.

"Dr Yang's poor health makes him especially vulnerable to COVID-19," she said, adding he was being held in "harsh" conditions.

Yang has not being allowed access to lawyers and is believed to have been interrogated while shackled during his detention.

"This is unacceptable treatment of an Australian citizen," Payne said.

"We call for Dr Yang's immediate release and that he be allowed to leave China and travel to Australia with his wife."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not confirm the indictment at a press briefing Wednesday, but said Yang was "suspected of engaging in criminal activities that undermine our country's national security."

Geng said Yang's legal rights were "fully guaranteed" but that authorities had temporarily stopped arranging visits as part of epidemic control measures.

"We urge Australia to respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop any interference while China handles the case," he added.

Yang is the latest in a string of foreign nationals to be detained in China for espionage or attempting to steal state secrets.

Two Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, were detained in December 2018.

Media groups urge China to reconsider expulsion of US journalists
Washington (AFP) March 24, 2020 - The publishers of the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal asked China on Tuesday to reconsider its order expelling 13 US journalists, arguing the action imperils "access to critical information" about the global virus pandemic.

A joint letter from the three news organizations to the Chinese governments said the media is suffering "collateral damage" from a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

"This move -- made in retaliation for recent expulsions by the United States government -- is one that we would protest under any circumstances," said the letter signed by William Lewis of the Journal, Fred Ryan of the Post and A.G. Sulzberger of the Times.

"But it is uniquely damaging and reckless as the world continues the struggle to control this disease, a struggle that will require the free flow of reliable news and information."

A total of 13 American journalists have been told to hand back their credentials to Chinese authorities.

China last month expelled three journalists from The Wall Street Journal after the newspaper ran an opinion piece on the coronavirus crisis with a headline that Beijing called racist.

The US responded by curbing the number of Chinese nationals from state-run outlets.

China's latest move has been criticized by media watchdog groups, some of which also lamented the US reprisal actions.

US President Donald Trump last week said he was "not happy" about the expulsions despite his own issues with US media outlets.

The three news executives called on the Chinese government to reverse its decision on expulsion and to "ease the growing crackdown on independent news organizations that preceded this action."

"The media is collateral damage in a diplomatic dispute between the Chinese and US governments, threatening to deprive the world of critical information at a perilous moment," they wrote.

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