US EditionChinese Court Sentences Japanese Pharma Executive to 3.5 Years for Espionage
CHINA, JUL 16 – The Japanese employee was detained for over two years amid China’s increased scrutiny of foreigners under expanded espionage laws, with 17 Japanese nationals held since 2014, officials said.
- 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.
51 Articles
51 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
The AgeChina’s money makes us rich but, as I well know, you can’t put a price on freedom
Falsely accused of espionage, I was jailed for more than three years in China. It is incumbent on everyone, not just Anthony Albanese, to be clear-eyed and cool-headed when it comes to Beijing.
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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