Japanese citizen indicted on suspicion of espionage, China confirms (updated)

Astellas Pharma

22/08/2024 09:33

(Adds details, context throughout)
       BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Chinese prosecutors have
indicted a Japanese citizen on suspicion of espionage, China's
foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding that the rights of the
people involved in the case would be protected. 
    The individual was indicted recently in line with the law,
Mao Ning, a spokesperson at the ministry, said at a regular
press conference when asked about the indictment of a Japanese
employee of Astellas Pharma Inc  4503.T .
    Ties between China and Japan have grown tense in recent
years as they contend with issues from territorial claims to
Tokyo's decision to release treated water from the crippled
Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. 
    Arrests of Japanese citizens in China have fuelled those
tensions.
        The 
    detention of the Astellas employee
     in China last year has cast a chilling effect on business,
some Japanese officials have said, contributing to a drop in
foreign investment and an exodus of Japanese expatriates. 
    The Japanese pharmaceutical company said on Wednesday that
one of its Japanese employees detained since March 2023 on
suspicion of spying had been indicted by Chinese authorities,
without naming the individual.    
    Japan's foreign ministry said a man in his 50s detained in
Beijing last year was indicted in mid-August, also without
identifying the person. 
        "China is a country with the rule of law, that
investigates and deals with law-breaking and illegal activities
in accordance with the law," Mao said.
  
        "At the same time (China) safeguards the legitimate
rights and interests of the people involved, and facilitates the
duties of Japanese consular officials stationed in China," she
said.   
  

 (Reporting by Colleen Howe; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by
Alison Williams and Bernadette Baum)
 ((Ryan.Woo@thomsonreuters.com;))