A Chinese Australian writer detained in Beijing on suspicion of espionage since January has urged Australia to maintain diplomatic pressure for his release.
Yang Hengjun said in a statement released by a Sydney-based friend on Thursday that he was "extremely grateful" to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, other Australian lawmakers and diplomats "for their help."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Morrison's comments "completely confuse right and wrong and contradict themselves."
Yang said in the statement that was compiled by Australian diplomats during their monthly meetings with him in detention, the most recent on Tuesday, that the Chinese chief investigator told him "Australia is small and won't care about me."
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