China’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that it has organized a consular visit for Japanese embassy officials to meet a detained Japanese citizen suspected of espionage. The arrest, which occurred in March and was formally acknowledged by Japan in October, has strained the close economic ties between the two nations.
During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged the prompt release of the arrested individual. Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi recently met the detained senior Astellas Pharma employee, identified in media reports as Hiroshi Nishiyama.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that China, as a country under the rule of law, has handled the case in accordance with legal procedures, ensuring the protection of the individual’s legitimate rights and interests. The ministry did not disclose the identity of the Japanese citizen.
The arrest of Nishiyama, a well-connected veteran of the Japanese community in China, has had a significant chilling effect on business ties, according to Tokyo officials. Despite this, the Chinese foreign ministry emphasized its support for China-Japan trade and economic cooperation, asserting that China provides a conducive environment for the lawful operation of Japanese companies and their employees.
Japan’s foreign ministry reported a total of five Japanese nationals currently detained in China, with 17 detained since the introduction of China’s anti-espionage law in 2015. This law, expanded in July of the current year, grants Chinese authorities the power to address activities deemed threats to national security, including the leak of documents, data, and information related to national security.
