Yang Hengjun

The Chinese-Australian thriller writer — who also runs a blog critical of China — reported missing in China last week (see the earlier MobyLives story) has turned up … sort of.

A Reuters wire story says that “in a brief telephone interview” writer Yang Hengjun, an Australian national, said, “I’m very good now, but it’s not convenient for me to say more. I’ll be going back to Australia. I’m able to leave.” But he didn’t say when.

Friends of Yang’s and others feared he’d been detained secretly due to his criticism of the country during a time when there has been a crackdown on dissent, and as the Reuters story notes, the incident had led to “friction” between China and Australia, whose “Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had raised concerns about Yang with the Chinese embassy in Canberra.” The report says Yang’s resurfacing may “remove some of the friction about the case that could have clouded” an impending visit to China by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

In addition to the Reuters interview, Yang has reportedly called several friends, but no one has actually seen him yet.

Meanwhile Reuters reports Yang explained his days-long absence by saying, “I wasn’t feeling too well.” However, he said, “Now’s not the time to explain more.”