Beijing, July 17 (V7N) – A Chinese court has sentenced a Japanese national to three and a half years in prison on charges of espionage, according to a statement by the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday (July 16, local time).

The individual, reportedly an employee of Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Inc., was convicted by the Intermediate People’s Court in Beijing.

Japanese Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, expressed strong concern over the verdict. “This is very regrettable. The Japanese government will continue to press for and support his early release,” Kanasugi told reporters, as quoted by Kyodo News.

The Japanese citizen was detained in March 2023, just before he was scheduled to return home. He was formally arrested in October 2023 and charged with espionage in August 2024.

The case has added to growing diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, particularly over concerns related to citizen safety, legal transparency, and national security laws in China.

The Japanese government has not disclosed the identity of the individual, citing privacy and diplomatic sensitivity.

Source: Anadolu Agency, Kyodo News

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