Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has raised the plight of detained Australian Chinese democracy activist Yang Hengjun in Beijing on Thursday, as the former diplomat faces espionage charges.

The blogger and novelist, who also goes by the name of Henry Yang, was arrested by secret police on January 19.

China says it is holding Mr Yang on a charge of “engaging in criminal activities endangering China’s national security”, according to news agency AFP.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying offered no further details in making the comments about Mr Yang at a daily news briefing in Beijing late Thursday.

Australian authorities, meanwhile, have raised concerns that Mr Wang was not granted access to consular assistance within three days.

It was five days later when Australian officials were alerted that he was being held by security forces.

Emerging from the talks in China late last night Mr Pyne’s spokesman confirmed Australia had raised the matter. 

“During discussions with General Wei, Minister Pyne raised the issue of the detention of Mr Yang; that he be treated fairly and transparently and that he be accorded consular assistance, without delay,” the statement said.

“General Wei assured Minister Pyne that, while he was not personally aware of the case, Mr Yang would be treated well and that the General would seek further information.”

Friends of Mr Yang have raised concerns he travelled to China despite warnings it was too dangerous for him.

Mr Pyne confirmed that Mr Yang was being held in residential detention and that Australia would raise his plight directly with China’s Minister for National Defence, General Wei Fenghe, and other senior officials.

“The Australian government is obviously concerned with the residential surveillance of Mr Yang,” Mr Pyne said.

On Wednesday, Fairfax reported that “Yang had been detained by a squad of 10 security agents shortly after arriving at an airport in China”.

His wife and daughter are no longer detained.

It’s not the first time he’s been detained in China.

In 2011, his disappearance sparked worldwide concern but he insisted it was all a “misunderstanding”.

“I was not kidnapped, but it made me clearer on what I really want and what China needs,” he said.

“I’m extremely confident in gradual change towards a better political system that includes respect for human rights, democracy and freedom.

“I’m not fearless. I’m not an activist or a dissident. I’m a writer, but I am certain that what I am doing is the right thing.”

Born in China, Mr Wang gained Australian citizenship in 2002. He spoke of his pride in his adopted home after he “disappeared” in China in 2011.

“Before this happened I was an Australian citizen,” he said.

“I thought of Australia as being very beautiful, safe and secure, with respect for human rights and fairness.

“I now see it’s more than that; it’s a great, wonderful country that has touched me deeply. My deepest thanks are to Australia.”

Labor leader Bill Shorten described the delays as “surprising and concerning”.

“This is very concerning. We don’t know what’s happened, there are protocols – and first of all I should say on this matter, we support what the government is doing so far,’’ he said.

"This is not the way relations between our two countries should be conducted at all."

Opposition Leader @billshortenmp on China's handling of the detainment of Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun pic.twitter.com/H7sGWuAZ5u

— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) January 23, 2019

“Secondly, I am not going to do megaphone diplomacy. China is a big country. They’ve got their own laws.

“There are protocols between countries … if you detain an Australian the deal is with China within three days we are notified. It appears to have taken at least five days and the agitation of some of this gentleman’s friends to let people know.”

Mr Shorten was then asked whether the Australian government should issue a travel warning to people travelling to China that they might be detained if they criticise the government.

“Well obviously, that’s a really important question and people have asked me that in the street as well,” he said.

“The travel advisory doesn’t recommend that and I tend to take the advice of the department.

“Listen, I think in general the arrangements, currently plenty of people travel between China and Australia. I think the general situation is fine, but I’m not going to sugar-coat it, this individual case is concerning and it is surprising.”

"Last night, the Chinese authorities gave formal notification to our embassy in Beijing that they have detained Mr Yang Hengjun" – @MarisePayne – Foreign Minister. #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/i6mNkFiVwi

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) January 24, 2019

Mr Yang also sparked enormous controversy in 2008 when he warned China any hint of official support for Olympic torch demonstrations in Australia could breach international law and damage relations between the two countries.

“I’m sending a friendly message to the Chinese government that this is very serious,” he said.

“And I’m telling Chinese students here that they are dumb. If you really want to show your patriotism, then go to Tiananmen Square.”

According to reports at the time he was attacked by Chinese internet assailants who called him a “foreign dog”, “white ghost”, “beggar”, “Han traitor” and “running dog”. Some critics even suggested he should be taken away and shot.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said at this stage there was no clear evidence of a link between the arrest and Chinese anger over Huawei being banned from rolling out Australia’s 5G network due to security concerns.

“I’d be concerned if there was an indication of that,” she said. “So we are calling on the Chinese authorities to ensure this matter is dealt with transparently and fairly.”