Detained artist has to leave China

A Chinese-born Australian artist detained in Beijing ahead of the 25th anniversary of the violent military crackdown at Tiananmen Square could be released and deported in two weeks.

Guo Jian, who was a protester there in 1989, was taken away by Chinese authorities last weekend shortly after a profile of him appeared in a newspaper in commemoration of the anniversary of the crackdown in which hundreds of people were killed.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said this week the federal government would do whatever it can to secure the 52-year-old's release.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday that Chinese authorities had advised that Mr Guo was detained on a visa-related matter.

"It remains our understanding Mr Guo will be detained for 15 days and then required to depart China," a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Australian government will extend Mr Guo all appropriate consular assistance while detained."

The Associated Press says his detention was part of a string of detentions of artists, lawyers, scholars and journalists ahead of the Tiananmen anniversary amid intense government efforts to deter coverage by international media of its remembrance.