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Manila Bulletin devider World devider China formally arrests Japanese man held since March for 'espionage'

China formally arrests Japanese man held since March for 'espionage'

Published Oct 19, 2023 10:58 am

BEIJING, China– China has formally arrested a Japanese man detained this year on espionage allegations, Tokyo's embassy in Beijing said on Thursday.

"We can confirm that the Japanese national detained in March has been arrested," an embassy official said in a statement to AFP.

China said in March that the man was "suspected of engaging in espionage activities".

The man, an employee of Japanese pharmaceutical firm Astellas, has reportedly worked in China for two decades.

He had planned to return to Japan before his sudden detention and was previously a senior executive of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in China, according to Kyodo News Agency.

Beijing's foreign ministry said Thursday that it did not have "more specific information" on the case.

"This Japanese citizen... has been subjected to criminal coercive measures by relevant Chinese authorities in accordance with the law," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

"As a country ruled by law, China will handle this case in accordance with law and protect the legitimate rights and interests of this person," she said.

In October 2019, Chinese authorities detained a Japanese professor, reportedly on suspicion of spying.

He was released and returned to Japan the following month.

In March 2020, China's foreign ministry said it had arrested a Chinese man reportedly working as a university professor in Japan who they claimed had confessed to spying.

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