Latest news with #AstellasPharma
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Ruling on Japanese businessman engaged in spying in China finalized
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- The ruling on a Japanese businessman who was convicted earlier this month by a Chinese court for engaging in spying and sentenced to three years and six months in prison has been finalized as he did not appeal it by the deadline on Monday, according to the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The ruling by Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court on July 16 did not specify how the man in his 60s working for Astellas Pharma Inc. acted illegally. But sources close to diplomatic ties have said the court judged he provided information to a Japanese intelligence agency and received rewards. The embassy said Monday it will continue to call for the early release of the Japanese citizen. Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi said on July 16 after attending the court that he cannot reveal details of the ruling at the request of the convicted man, adding explanation provided at the court "lacked transparency by our standards." Since China's counterespionage law first came into force in 2014, 17 Japanese citizens including the Astellas Pharma employee have been detained for alleged spying, according to the sources. Chinese authorities recognized some of the 17 have provided information to Japan's Public Security Intelligence Agency, according to the sources. The Astellas Pharma employee was detained in March 2023, just ahead of his scheduled return to Japan, was formally arrested in October of that year and was indicted in August 2024. He had served as an executive at the pharmaceutical company's Chinese unit and a senior official of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Astellas employee makes no appeal against conviction in China
A Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma, who has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for espionage in China, did not appeal the ruling by a Monday deadline, officials at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing said. The employee, in his 60s, will serve his sentence. He was detained by Chinese authorities in March 2023 just before returning to Japan after his term in China, and was indicted in August 2024. On July 16 this year, a Chinese regional court recognized his espionage activities, saying that he had been paid to provide information on China's politics and economy to intelligence agencies. The pretrial detention is included in his sentence. The detention of Japanese nationals in China remains a contentious issue between Tokyo and Beijing, with the Japanese government calling for their early release. The Astellas employee's sentence is considered relatively light compared with those of other Japanese citizens convicted of espionage in China. Some see that the light sentence was part of efforts by the administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve relations with Japan.
.JPG%3Fwidth%3D780%26fit%3Dcover%26gravity%3Dfaces%26dpr%3D2%26quality%3Dmedium%26source%3Dnar-cms%26format%3Dauto&w=3840&q=100)
Nikkei Asia
21-07-2025
- Nikkei Asia
China urged Astellas employee to take plea bargain on spy charge: source
An employee of Japan's Astellas Pharma was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by a Beijing court on July 16. © Kyodo YUKIO TAJIMA BEIJING -- Chinese authorities encouraged a detained Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma to confess to espionage charges in exchange for a reduced sentence, a source told Nikkei. The Astellas employee was sentenced Wednesday to three and a half years in prison by a Beijing court. According to a source familiar with the case, the court ruled that he had passed on Chinese internal information at the request of Japanese intelligence in return for compensation, which constituted espionage.
Japan Times
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Astellas employee won't appeal spying conviction in China
A Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma in his 60s, who was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for espionage in China on Wednesday, has no intention to appeal the ruling for now, informed sources said Saturday. As China uses a two-tier court system, those who are dissatisfied with the first ruling can appeal to a higher court. In the Astellas employee's case, his sentence will be finalized if he does not file an appeal by the deadline in late July. A Beijing district court that imposed the prison sentence on the employee is believed to have found him guilty of espionage for providing information about Chinese politics and the economy to an intelligence agency. Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi and other Japanese Embassy officials were allowed to observe Wednesday's sentencing session. Kanasugi said that the sentence was "extremely regrettable," but he did not provide details of the ruling presented in court. The employee was detained by Chinese authorities in March 2023, when he was about to leave China after completing his assignment. He was indicted in August 2024. The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which places importance on national security, established an anti-espionage law in 2014 to enhance the detection of spies. Since then, 17 Japanese nationals have been detained for alleged espionage activities, including five who are still in custody. The Japanese government will continue to press for the early release of all of them.
Nikkei Asia
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
China's jailing of Astellas employee could have gone differently: ex-envoy
Former Japanese ambassador to China, Hideo Tarumi, said he believes the people of both countries will continue to support each other, as they have throughout history. © Reuters KENJI KAWASE TOKYO -- The sentencing of a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma on espionage charges by a Beijing court on Wednesday could have had a different outcome, says Hideo Tarumi, a former Japanese ambassador to China. The verdict has shocked those who work in or deal with China.
