Department of Foreign Affairs rejects request from permanent Australian resident for help

Australia rejected a request for consular help as Chinese police circled in on an Australian permanent resident trying to leave the country. Key points: Yuan Xiaoliang, the wife of an Australian writer being held in China, sought help from DFAT, according to her lawyer Permanent residents are only provided consular support in special circumstances Her lawyer argues her being detained and interrogated "constitutes an emergency" Yuan Xiaoliang, the wife of an Australian writer who is detained in Beijing, attempted to fly out of China just days ago but was stopped by border security officials. Her Australian-based lawyer Rob Stary said they had asked Australia for various forms of help amid concerns for her welfare, "to assist Mrs Yuan in departing from China — that is to provide her advice — to escort her if necessary to the airport, and secondly, to give her refuge in the Australian embassy," Mr Stary told AM. "They say she is a Chinese National, and being an Australian permanent resident they say she doesn't have an entitlement to exercise that right of consular assistance." Mr Yang is receiving consular assistance as he is an Australian citizen, and Mr Stary argued this was another reason why Australian officials should help Mrs Yuan.