Beijing raises ‘serious concerns’ over Japan’s arrest of Chinese researcher in trade secrets case
- Quan Hengdao was taken into custody last week on suspicion of leaking data from a top Japanese institute
- Foreign ministry says it hopes Tokyo will respect the rule of law and fair competition
China is “seriously concerned” about the arrest in Japan of a Chinese researcher accused of leaking trade secrets, the foreign ministry in Beijing said on Monday.
Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing voiced the concern through diplomatic channels and requested Japan ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens were protected.
“We hope that the Japanese side will effectively respect the rule of law, market economy and the principle of fair competition, and create a favourable environment for Sino-Japanese scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation,” Mao said.
Police in Tokyo arrested Quan Hengdao, a 59-year-old Chinese national and senior researcher at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), on Thursday on suspicion of illegally sending research data obtained at the institute to a Chinese company, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The data related to synthesis technology for a fluorine compound and the alleged leak via email in 2018 violated Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Law, police said.
The compound synthesis in the case is an advanced technology to produce a highly insulating gas used in electric devices like transformers.
One week after the email was sent, the Chinese company filed for a patent with Quan’s name as the inventor, Japanese media reported. The application was later approved.