US EditionChinese Court Sentences Japanese Pharma Executive to 3.5 Years for Espionage
BEIJING, CHINA, JUL 16 – The Japanese embassy said 17 nationals have been detained under China’s counterespionage laws since 2014, with five still held, highlighting ongoing diplomatic tensions.
- On July 16, 2025, a court in Beijing handed down a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence to a Japanese executive from Astellas Pharma on charges of espionage.
- The man, aged in his 60s, was taken into custody in March 2023 and subsequently placed under formal arrest in October, following charges filed under China’s 2014 and updated 2023 counterespionage legislation.
- This case is part of a broader pattern involving 17 Japanese citizens detained in China for alleged spying since 2014, causing alarms among foreign executives and diplomats.
- Japanese Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, expressed deep disappointment over the court's decision and committed to ongoing efforts to secure the man's prompt release while emphasizing the need for humane treatment and greater openness in the judicial process.
- The sentencing threatens to further strain bilateral relations amid ongoing tensions from security concerns and disputes, with Tokyo strongly protesting the detentions and demanding releases.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Japanese National's Espionage Sentence in China Sparks Controversy
Japanese National's Espionage Sentence in China Sparks Controversy Japan expressed profound disappointment after a Japanese citizen received a 3.5-year prison sentence in China on espionage charges, labeling the verdict as 'extremely regrettable.' While Japan's government spokesperson, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki, did not disclose the individual’s identity or organizational ties, media reports have identified him as an employee …
Japan's Foreign Ministry on Monday called on Beijing to release Japanese citizens who have been sentenced in China. Earlier in the day, a Japanese businessman was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, and Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura demanded that the unnamed man, as well as other Japanese citizens imprisoned in China, be released.
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China jails Japanese man, in his 60s and detained since 2023, for spying; Tokyo says ‘extremely regrettable’
China has jailed a 63-year-old Japanese man for three and a half years for spying. He is among 17 Japanese citizens with business or other connections to China who have been detained in China since 2014 when the Communist regime enacted the anti-spying law. Five Japanese nationals are still held in China.
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