Chinese prosecutors have charged a Japanese citizen with espionage, China's Foreign Ministry said Thursday, adding that the rights of those involved in the case would be protected.
The Japanese citizen was recently charged in accordance with the law, Mao Ning, a ministry spokesman, said at a regular press conference when asked about the charges against a Japanese employee at Astellas Pharma Inc.
Relations between China and Japan have grown increasingly tense in recent years as the two countries face issues ranging from territorial claims to Tokyo's decision to release treated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
The arrest of a number of Japanese citizens in China has fueled the tensions.
The detention of Astellas employees in China last year has had a negative impact on business, Japanese officials say, and contributed to a decline in foreign investment and an exodus of Japanese expatriates.
The Japanese pharmaceutical company said Wednesday that one of its Japanese employees detained since March 2023 on suspicion of espionage had been charged by Chinese authorities, without naming the individual.
Japan's Foreign Ministry said a man in his 50s detained in Beijing last year had been indicted in mid-August, also without identifying the person.
“China is a country that upholds the rule of law, which investigates and handles unlawful and illegal activities in accordance with the law,” Mao said.
“At the same time (China) protects the legitimate rights and interests of the persons involved, and facilitates the duties of Japanese consular officials stationed in China,” he said. (ab/lt)
