Chinese court jails Japanese executive for 3.5 years in spying case
BEIJING – A Chinese court sentenced a Japanese citizen to a prison term for espionage, Nippon TV reported, citing an unidentified Japanese government official, in a verdict that threatens to damage ties between Asia's two largest economies.
The Nikkei newspaper said the jail term was 3½ years.
The convicted man, an executive of Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma, was detained in March 2023 and charged with espionage in October of that year.
The sentence threatens to further strain already tense relations between the two countries, which have been hurt by a range of issues, from Chinese military manoeuvres to Japan's release of treated nuclear wastewater into the ocean.
Tokyo had sought the man's release, but Beijing has stood its ground citing the country's national security.
'This is extremely regrettable. We will continue to call for the release of the man at the earliest and support him,' Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi told reporters, as cited by Kyodo News.
The case has alarmed executives in China. Japanese companies are not the only ones whose employees have been taken into custody. An executive and two former employees of WPP, one of the world's biggest advertising companies, were arrested in China in 2023 in relation to a bribery investigation.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore July BTO launch to have over 4,600 balance flats, 2 BTO projects with under than 3-year wait
Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH
Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction
Business US tariffs may last well after Trump; crucial for countries to deepen trade ties: SM Lee
Multimedia Telling the Singapore story for 180 years
Asia Indonesia police detain 12 suspects over baby trafficking ring linked to Singapore
Life Walking for exercise? Here are tips on how to do it properly
Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years
Chinese police also took into custody four Taiwanese employees at Hon Hai Precision Industry, Apple's main assembly partner in 2024.
A spokesperson for Astellas declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News. No one was available to comment at Japan's foreign ministry. Bloomberg
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Explainer-Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and the MAGA controversy
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo WASHINGTON - The 2019 suicide of disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a New York jail cell generated conspiracy theories, fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump's conservative MAGA movement, that he was killed by one of his famous connections. Here are some facts about Epstein and the current controversy: WHO IS JEFFREY EPSTEIN? The Brooklyn-born Epstein, a former high school math teacher who later founded consulting and financial management firms, cultivated the rich and famous. He was known for socializing with politicians and royalty, including Trump, Democratic President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Britain's Prince Andrew. Some friends and clients flew on his private plane and visited his Caribbean islands. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. During the 2021 trial of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier's longtime pilot, Lawrence Visoski, testified that Trump flew on Epstein's private plane multiple times. Trump has denied being on the plane. WHAT WAS EPSTEIN CHARGED WITH? Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge, after federal prosecutors agreed not to charge him with sex trafficking of minors. He served 13 months in jail and was required to register as a sex offender. That punishment is now widely regarded as too lenient. In July 2019, the Justice Department charged Epstein with sex trafficking minors, including sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of girls, in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He pleaded not guilty. Epstein died on August 10, 2019, at age 66 by hanging himself in a Manhattan jail cell, an autopsy concluded. He was never tried on the 2019 charges. WHAT IS THE CURRENT CONTROVERSY OVER EPSTEIN? Though the New York City chief medical examiner determined that Epstein's death was a suicide by hanging, Epstein's ties to wealthy and powerful people prompted speculation that one or more of them wanted him silenced. In several interviews, Trump left open the possibility that Epstein may not have died by suicide. During the 2024 presidential campaign, when asked on Fox News if he would declassify the Epstein files, Trump said, "Yeah, yeah I would." In February, Fox News asked Attorney General Pam Bondi whether the Justice Department would be releasing Epstein's client list, and she said, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." Some of Trump's most loyal followers became furious after his administration reversed course on its promise. A Justice Department memo released on July 7 concluded that Epstein killed himself and said there was "no incriminating client list" or evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people. The demands by Trump supporters for more Epstein-related documents have caused a rare fracture within the president's base. Supporters, inspired by conservative talk show hosts and podcasters, have said the federal government is concealing records to protect wealthy and influential people with ties to Epstein. Trying to contain the fallout, Trump defended Bondi and accused his supporters in a Truth Social post of falling for a hoax, calling them "weaklings" who were helping Democrats. With backlash from his base not abating, Trump on July 17 requested that Bondi ask a federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's 2019 indictment. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Even if Bondi asks the judge to release the grand jury transcripts, the ultimate decision is up to a judge. Transcripts of grand jury proceedings are generally kept secret under federal criminal procedure rules, with limited exceptions. If a judge agrees to release the transcripts, it is likely that some material would be redacted, or blacked out because of privacy or security concerns. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Spain confirms using Huawei to store judicial wiretaps, denies security risk
Spain said it only relies on Huawei Technologies to operate part of its wiretapping system, and dismissed any security risks. MADRID – Spain said it only relies on Huawei Technologies to operate part of its wiretapping system, and dismissed any security risks. Huawei storage within the so-called Sitel judicial wiretapping system 'represents a minor part of a watertight, audited, isolated and certified system in compliance with the national high-level security scheme,' a government official said in a statement on July 18 in response to questions from Bloomberg News. The comments follow recent media reports saying that the government uses Huawei technology to help operate Sitel. The reports led US Senator Tom Cotton and Representative Rick Crawford to write to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard earlier this week to request that Washington pull back on sharing intelligence with Spain. Even though Spain has moved away from Huawei as a 5G network vendor, the country's reliance on the company for a key intelligence function creates a gaping security concern for the the US and its allies, Mr Cotton wrote. In July 18's statement, Spain's government said its intelligence agency CNI is not included in the Huawei contract and that Huawei equipment is not used for any classified information. Sitel is used by security forces that report to the interior affairs ministry. 'The Sitel system is completely isolated from any external environment and continuously monitored by a dedicated cybersecurity team with capabilities in traffic analysis, network management and perimeter security capabilities, supported by cybersecurity personnel' from the security forces, the government said. 'The integration of Huawei-branded storage into Sitel has therefore not posed any risk to the system's security.' European countries are increasingly moving to exclude Huawei and other telecom vendors with ties to hostile governments from their networks. Germany, Portugal, the UK, Sweden and France have already taken steps to block equipment seen as a security risk based on its country of origin. Equipment made by Huawei and other Chinese vendors has also been blacklisted in the US. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Explainer-What you need to know about Trump, Epstein and the MAGA controversy
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo WASHINGTON - The 2019 suicide of disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a New York jail cell generated conspiracy theories, fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump's conservative MAGA movement, that he was killed by one of his famous connections. Here are some facts about Epstein and the current controversy: WHO IS JEFFREY EPSTEIN? The Brooklyn-born Epstein, a former high school math teacher who later founded consulting and financial management firms, cultivated the rich and famous. He was known for socializing with politicians and royalty, including Trump, Democratic President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Britain's Prince Andrew. Some friends and clients flew on his private plane and visited his Caribbean islands. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. During the 2021 trial of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier's longtime pilot, Lawrence Visoski, testified that Trump flew on Epstein's private plane multiple times. Trump has denied being on the plane. WHAT WAS EPSTEIN CHARGED WITH? In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge, after federal prosecutors agreed not to charge him with sex trafficking of minors. He served 13 months in jail and was required to register as a sex offender. That punishment is now widely regarded as too lenient. In July 2019, the Justice Department charged Epstein with sex trafficking minors, including sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of girls, in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He pleaded not guilty. Epstein died on August 10, 2019, at age 66 by hanging himself in a Manhattan jail cell, an autopsy concluded. He was never tried on the 2019 charges. WHAT IS THE CURRENT CONTROVERSY OVER EPSTEIN? Though the New York City chief medical examiner determined that Epstein's death was a suicide by hanging, Epstein's ties to wealthy and powerful people prompted speculation that one or more of them wanted him silenced. In several interviews, Trump left open the possibility that Epstein may not have died by suicide. During the 2024 presidential campaign, when asked on Fox News if he would declassify the Epstein files, Trump said, "Yeah, yeah I would." In February, Fox News asked Attorney General Pam Bondi whether the Justice Department would be releasing Epstein's client list, and she said, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." Some of Trump's most loyal followers became furious after his administration reversed course on its promise. A Justice Department memo released on July 7 concluded that Epstein killed himself and said there was "no incriminating client list" or evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people. The demands by Trump supporters for more Epstein-related documents have caused a rare fracture within the president's base. Supporters, inspired by conservative talk show hosts and podcasters, have said the federal government is concealing records to protect wealthy and influential people with ties to Epstein. Trying to contain the fallout, Trump defended Bondi and accused his supporters in a Truth Social post of falling for a hoax, calling them "weaklings" who were helping Democrats. With backlash from his base not abating, Trump on July 17 requested that Bondi ask a federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's 2019 indictment. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Even if Bondi asks the judge to release the grand jury transcripts, the ultimate decision is up to a judge. Transcripts of grand jury proceedings are generally kept secret under federal criminal procedure rules, with limited exceptions. If a judge agrees to release the transcripts, it is likely that some material would be redacted, or blacked out because of privacy or security concerns. REUTERS
