'Irresponsible remarks': China hits back at Australia over Yang Hengjun detention plea

China has hit back at Australia for interfering in its investigation of a Chinese-Australian writer, calling remarks by its foreign minister "irresponsible".

Yang Hengjun's lawyers are urging the Australian government to act decisively. Source: Supplied

China has told Australia to stop interfering in the lawful investigation of a Chinese-Australian writer and to stop issuing "irresponsible remarks".

Foreign Minister Marise Payne is "deeply disappointed" writer and former diplomat Yang Hengjun has been transferred to criminal detention.

Senator Payne was seeking clarification over the reasons for his detention.

"If he is being detained for his political views, then he should be released," she says.

Labor has slammed Foreign Minister Marise Payne for hypocrisy over freedom of the press. (AAP)

AAP

 

But a spokesman for China's foreign ministry says Beijing is carrying out a lawful investigation.

"China's deplores the statement made by the Australian foreign minister and urges the Australian side not to interfere in China's lawful handling of the case in anyway and stop issuing irresponsible remarks," he said.

The Chinese-born fiction writer, pro-democracy campaigner and former diplomat was being held in Guangzhou after arriving from the US in January.

The 53-year-old, who has held Australian citizenship since 2002 and has a doctorate from the University of Technology Sydney, was living in New York as a visiting scholar at Columbia University.