Japanese man in 50s arrested in China for 'espionage' activities
Chinese Foreign Ministry new spokesperson Mao Ning
A Japanese person arrested in China earlier this month has been charged with espionage activities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.
During a news briefing, the spokesperson said that he was working at a Japanese firm, Astellas Pharma.
“This Japanese citizen is suspected of engaging in espionage activities, in violation of the criminal law and the anti-espionage law of the People's Republic of China,” Mao said, adding that China has notified the Japanese embassy in China.
She asked Japan to request their citizens not engage in such activities claiming that similar cases have been reported in recent years.
According to Chinese media, the company has not identified the employee, while a spokesperson said it was unclear why he was detained.
“I want to stress that companies and individuals need to respect and abide by the law. This is international customary practice,” Mao said.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
“China will handle the case in accordance with law and will protect the rights of the person in accordance with the law.”
Responding to the arrest, Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that Tokyo’s embassy in Beijing was informed “this month that a Japanese man in his 50s was detained in Beijing for breaking China’s domestic laws”, reports Reuters news agency.
No details on the man’s identity or his alleged crime or when he was arrested has been provided by the government.
“Ever since we learnt about this case, the Japanese government has been strongly urging the immediate release of this Japanese national,” Matsuno was quoted as saying.
According to Japanese media, over a dozen Japanese nationals have been arrested in China since 2015.
Of which, eight have returned, while seven are facing trail or serving jail time in China. One person had died during his detention, Japan’s Mainichi newspaper reported in February.
Five of them have been found guilty by China of endangering national security, the paper said.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE