Latest news with #JapaneseEmbassy
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Japanese traveller anxiety soars amid China's espionage arrests
The arrest and prosecution of Japanese citizens in China is fuelling public anxiety and deterring travel, Japan 's government has warned, as academics and businesspeople said they were either taking precautions or avoiding visits altogether. Tokyo expressed its concern about deteriorating relations on Wednesday after a court in Beijing sentenced a Japanese employee of pharmaceuticals manufacturer Astellas Pharma to three years and six months in prison for espionage. The man, who has not been named but is reported to be in his sixties, was initially detained in March 2023 as he prepared to leave China after working in the country. He was indicted last August , and the first hearing in his case took place three months later. The sentencing hearing on Wednesday was not open to the press, but officials from the Japanese embassy in Beijing were permitted to attend, Jiji Press reported. 'It is extremely regrettable that a guilty ruling was issued,' Japanese ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi told reporters after the hearing. 'We will continue to call strongly for his early release while supporting him as much as we can.' Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi (centre) speaks to reporters in Beijing on Wednesday after a court jailed a Japanese man for spying. Photo: Kyodo Speaking later in the day in Tokyo, a foreign ministry spokesman said the arrest of Japanese nationals 'has become one of the major obstructive factors for people-to-people exchanges … and improvements in public sentiment', as quoted on Jiji Press.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
China jails Japanese businessman for espionage, embassy says
A Japanese businessman has been sentenced to three and a half years in China for espionage, Japan's embassy in Beijing has said. The man, described by Japan's Kyodo News Agency as an employee of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. in his 60s, was first detained in March 2023 and placed under formal arrest in October. 'In light of the sentence, we have once again strongly urged the Chinese side for the early release of the Japanese national concerned in this case as well as others detained,' Tokyo's embassy in Beijing said in a statement on Wednesday. China should also 'ensure their legitimate rights and humane treatment during detention' and 'improve the transparency of the judicial process', the embassy said. Japanese ambassador Kenji Kanasugi called the verdict 'extremely regrettable' in remarks to the media after the trial at Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. Tokyo has protested a series of detentions of its citizens in China. At total of 17 Japanese, including the Astellas Pharma employee, have been detained since 2014, when China introduced a counterespionage law, according to Kyodo. Among those, five are still in China, according to the news agency.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese court sentences a Japanese man to more than 3 years in prison on espionage charges
BEIJING (AP) — A Japanese business person was sentenced Wednesday to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing. The embassy did not identify the man, who has been detained since March 2023. Japan's Kyodo News Agency described him as a man in his 60s and an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., a major Japanese pharmaceutical company. The man was charged with espionage in August and his first hearing was held in November but no details were released. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court did not immediately make an announcement after handing down the sentence. Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese ambassador to China, was present at the ruling but Japanese reporters were not allowed inside the courtroom, Kyodo reported. The Japanese government has protested a series of detentions of its citizens in China. An embassy statement called the sentencing 'regrettable' and said the detentions are 'one of the biggest obstacles to improving people-to-people exchanges and public sentiment between Japan and China.' At total of 17 Japanese, including the defendant in this case, have been detained since 2014, when China enacted the anti-spying law. Five remain in China, Kyodo reported.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Chinese court sentences a Japanese man to more than 3 years in prison on espionage charges
A Japanese business person was sentenced Wednesday to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing. The embassy did not identify the man, who has been detained since March 2023. Japan's Kyodo News Agency described him as a man in his 60s and an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., a major Japanese pharmaceutical company. The man was charged with espionage in August, and his first hearing was held in November, but no details were released. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court did not immediately make an announcement after handing down the sentence. Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese ambassador to China, was present at the ruling, but Japanese reporters were not allowed inside the courtroom, Kyodo reported. The Japanese government has protested a series of detentions of its citizens in China. An embassy statement called the sentencing regrettable and said the detentions are one of the biggest obstacles to improving people-to-people exchanges and public sentiment between Japan and China. A total of 17 Japanese, including the defendant in this case, have been detained since 2014, when China enacted the anti-spying law. Five remain in China, Kyodo reported.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Chinese court sentences a Japanese man to more than 3 years in prison on espionage charges
A Japanese business person was sentenced Wednesday to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing. The embassy did not identify the man, who has been detained since March 2023. Japan's Kyodo News Agency described him as a man in his 60s and an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., a major Japanese pharmaceutical company. The man was charged with espionage in August and his first hearing was held in November but no details were released. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court did not immediately make an announcement after handing down the sentence. Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese ambassador to China, was present at the ruling but Japanese reporters were not allowed inside the courtroom, Kyodo reported. The Japanese government has protested a series of detentions of its citizens in China. An embassy statement called the sentencing 'regrettable' and said the detentions are 'one of the biggest obstacles to improving people-to-people exchanges and public sentiment between Japan and China.' At total of 17 Japanese, including the defendant in this case, have been detained since 2014, when China enacted the anti-spying law. Five remain in China, Kyodo reported.
