China blocks Sydney academic from flying

Feng, who went to China three weeks ago, was interrogated over his links to Chinese liberal intellectuals

Chinese authorities have blocked an Australiabased academic from boarding a flight home, Australia said yesterday, after what sources said was repeated interrogation over his links to liberal intellectuals in mainland China.

The case of long-serving University of Technology Sydney (UTS) associate professor Feng Chongyi comes just as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang winds up a five-day official visit in Canberra and Sydney espousing free trade and closer economic ties between Australia and China.

Feng, who is an Australian permanent resident but retains his Chinese passport, entered China three weeks ago.

Questioned twice

He was first held for questioning in Kunming, the provincial capital of southwestern Yunnan, last week, before being barred from boarding a flight to Sydney at Guangzhou’s international airport on Friday morning, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

He is travelling with his wife, who is an Australian national.

Having subsequently requested help from Australian authorities, Feng felt confident his case had been resolved and he would be free to travel, one of the sources said. But he was again notified he was on a no-fly list when attempting to board a second flight home late on Saturday.

“The Australian government is aware that a UTS professor, who is an Australian permanent resident, has been prevented from leaving China,” a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

Political situation

“According to the Australia-China consular treaty, the Australian government is able to provide consular assistance only to Australian citizens who have entered China on their Australian passport.”

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Feng, who was head of China Studies at UTS for 11 years, is well-known in academic circles for his research into contemporary politics, the growth of rights consciousness and democratic forces in mainland China.

He has been vocal in the Australian media over what he and numerous fellow China experts consider Beijing’s increasing attempts to influence Australian politics and exert control over Chineselanguage media.

It is understood that, as of yesterday morning, Feng remained free to move around within mainland China and had not been detained.