Espionage is punishable by death in China.
Australia wanted to see clear details of the case against Yang, Morrison has said, and ensure him access to lawyers and family., including isolation and daily interrogations, sometimes while he was shackled.The public rebuke immediately drew a negative response from China, which is Australia's largest trading partner. Previous diplomatic spats have resulted in disruptions to exports of coal and wine.
One of Yang's Australian lawyers, Sarah Condon, said China's Ministry of State Security was giving 54-year-old Yang several medications daily because he had received a diagnosis of high blood pressure and kidney problems.