The federal opposition says the apparent disappearance in China of a Chinese-Australian writer is "deeply troubling".
Novelist and influential online commentator Yang Hengjun has reportedly not been seen since he called a colleague on Sunday claiming he was being followed by three men.
There are fears the man has been detained by Chinese authorities as part of their crackdown on political expression in the wake of the democratic uprisings sweeping the Middle East and north Africa.
"We are deeply concerned about Dr Yang and his apparent disappearance and we have called on the Chinese government to contact Australian officials and work with them to explain his whereabouts," coalition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said on Wednesday.
"I have not had a formal briefing as yet but I am hoping that the Australian consular officials in Beijing are doing all they can to locate him. "It is deeply troubling."
