The Australian Government was deeply concerned to learn of the harsh sentences handed down to human rights lawyers and activists, Mr Xu Zhiyong and Mr Ding Jiaxi, on 10 April 2023.

The crimes Mr Xu and Mr Ding are alleged to have committed appear to be related to their exercise of rights to freedom of speech and association guaranteed under China’s constitution. We note with concern the opinions issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention with respect to these cases, including in relation to the legal basis for their detention and need for procedural fairness. The Australian Government is also concerned about reports that Mr Xu and Mr Ding were subjected to ill-treatment in detention.

We call on China to meet its international human rights obligations with respect to Mr Xu and Mr Ding.