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Japanese citizen confirmed to be detained – Macau Today

Broadcast United News Desk
Japanese citizen confirmed to be detained – Macau Today

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China confirmed yesterday that it was investigating a Japanese citizen on suspicion of espionage, but did not disclose the identity of the suspect in custody.

“China is investigating and handling legal and criminal cases in accordance with the law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a press conference in response to a question about the whereabouts of a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was “protecting the legitimate rights and interests of all parties concerned, including consular officials performing their duties in China”.

“But Japan should educate its citizens to respect Chinese laws and not engage in illegal and criminal activities,” he added. Last year, Japan called on Beijing to release a Japanese citizen who had been detained for months by Chinese authorities on suspicion of espionage.

Tokyo later confirmed that the Japanese citizen was an employee of Astellas Pharma who was detained as he was preparing to travel to Japan from China, but he was charged with violating counterintelligence laws, but did not disclose further details about the case.

China has tightened controls on foreign nationals after introducing and amending counterintelligence legislation to bolster national security and prosecute possession of “spy equipment”.

In addition to this case, at least 16 Japanese citizens have been detained since 2015 on suspicion of involvement in espionage activities, five of whom are still being held in China.

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