Japanese man detained in China since July on possible espionage charge
- Since 2015, at least 15 Japanese citizens have been detained in China on such charges as espionage
- China has intensified its scrutiny of foreign organisations and individuals in the name of protecting national security
Later in the day, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo the government had confirmed the man’s detention by Chinese authorities, with the Foreign Ministry saying he is accused of acting in “violation of domestic law” in China.
The man in question is being held in Changsha and has had access to consular services, the government source said, adding that he is in good health. It is unclear why he got in trouble with Chinese authorities.
In September, a Japanese professor at Hokkaido University in Sapporo was picked up in China on suspicion of espionage, but he was freed earlier this month.
Since 2015, at least 15 Japanese citizens have been detained in China on such charges as espionage, including the man whose case came to light on Wednesday. With details of the detentions withheld from the public, some Japanese expatriates in the country have been left worried.
China has been stepping up its scrutiny of foreign organisations and individuals in the name of protecting national security since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012.
Not only Japanese, but a number of other foreign nationals have been held in China, particularly after a counter-espionage law took effect in 2014 and a national security law in 2015.