Japanese ‘spy’ detained in China last month allowed to return home
- The man, named by China’s foreign ministry as Nobu Iwatani, reportedly confessed to collecting a large amount of ‘classified information’
- Japanese media have identified him as a professor from Hokkaido University who previously worked for the Japan’s defence and foreign ministries
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A Japanese man reportedly detained by Beijing on allegations of spying has been released and returned to his home country, government officials in Tokyo said on Friday.
Japanese media have identified him as a professor from Hokkaido University who was detained on suspicion of spying.
In Beijing, China’s foreign ministry said the man – who they identified as Nobu Iwatani – confessed to collecting a large amount of “classified information”.
“The facts are clear, the evidence is conclusive,” said spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
The man is suspected of violating both China’s criminal and counter-espionage laws and is awaiting trial on bail, Geng told reporters, adding that the man left China on Friday and returned to his home country.
Late last month, Abe demanded “a positive response from China regarding the detention of a Japanese national” when he met China’s vice-president Wang Qishan.
The man, who has not been named by Japan, previously worked for the National Institute for Defence Studies in the defence ministry and the Japanese foreign ministry, according to local media reports.
Beijing has faced accusations of using the detention of foreigners as a political tool, with observers calling it “hostage diplomacy”.
In 2017, China detained six Japanese citizens for alleged “illegal activities”.
Since 2015, at least 13 Japanese citizens – all civilians – have been detained in China on various charges including espionage, according to local Japanese media.
