Defence Minister Christopher Pyne says there is no proof the detention of a Chinese-Australian writer in Beijing is related to the arrest of two Canadians in China.
Yang Hengjun is being held in Beijing on suspicion of endangering China's national security, the same charge levelled against two Canadian men late last year.
"I don't see any evidence that the detention of Mr Yang is linked to decisions made by the Australian government in recent times," Mr Pyne told a security forum in Singapore on Monday.
"Nor do I see it being linked to the detention of the two Canadians."
Mr Pyne held talks in Beijing last week aimed at repairing ties with China, which have been strained since 2017, when Canberra accused the nation of meddling in its affairs.
The minister said he spoke to Chinese authorities during his trip to ensure Mr Yang had been well cared for and was being treated fairly and transparently.
The arrests of two Canadian citizens - a consultant and a diplomat on unpaid leave - have stoked tensions between China and some western countries in recent weeks.
Australia joined international condemnation of their arrests, which are widely seen as retaliation for the arrest in Canada of a top Chinese business executive.
Mr Yang, a vocal advocate for democracy and rule of law, has been an Australian citizen since 2002.
The 53-year-old had been living in New York as a visiting scholar at Columbia University, before leaving for Guangzhou on January 18.
He was prevented from boarding his connecting flight to Shanghai with his wife and daughter, and is said to be under residential surveillance in Beijing, which is similar to home detention.
Consulate staff from the Australian embassy in Beijing visited Mr Yang on Friday afternoon.
