Speaking with his daughter and niece last month at Nanjing Prison, he said that he had not received adequate treatment since his health began to deteriorate, and he worries that, without proper care, he might not live to see the end of his sentence.
Yang was sentenced to 12 years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” by expressing his opinions about democracy.
He has tuberculosis, diabetes, kidney inflammation, and high blood pressure.
Doctors in the prison have administered some basic drugs to him, but they have not allowed him to seek specialised treatment outside of the institution.