12-Yr Sentence Becomes Final for Japanese Man Held in China
11:24 JST, November 12, 2023
Beijing (Jiji Press)—A Japanese man in his 50s detained in China has seen his 12-year prison sentence for espionage become a final verdict, informed sources said Saturday.
His appeal against the sentence was rejected by Hunan High People’s Court on Nov. 3, said the sources with expertise on bilateral affairs.
The man was detained in July 2019 in Changsha in the southern province of Hunan by national security staff in charge of hunting spies. A district court sentenced him to 12 years in prison in February this year.
The Japanese government asked China to release him as soon as possible.
In China, 17 Japanese people have been detained under the antiespionage law, which came into effect in 2014. In July this year, China enforced the revised antiespionage law, strengthening surveillance.
The situation worries many expatriates.
Last month, it emerged that a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., detained in March on suspicion of spying, was formally arrested.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
-
Japan Election: Komeito Leader Keiichi Ishii Fails to Win Seat in Election; Party to Be Forced to Restructure Administration (Update 1)
-
Japan’s Special Diet Session likely to Open Nov. 11; Politicians Will Vote to Select Prime Minister
-
Shigeru Ishiba Retains Post as Japanese Prime Minister; Wins Runoff Against Head of Largest Opposition Party
-
Japan Election: Japan’s Ruling Bloc Could Seek Broader Coalition Amid Turmoil; CDPJ Hoping to Trigger Change of Government
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Streaming Services Boost Anime Popularity Overseas; Former ‘Geeky’ Interest More Beloved Among Gen Z than 3 Major U.S. Sports
- G20 Sees Soft Landing for Global Economy; Leaders Pledge to Resist Protectionism as Trump Calls for Imported Goods Flat Tariff
- Chinese Rights Lawyer’s Wife Seeks Support in Japan; Sophie Luo Calls for Beijing to Free Ding Jiaxi, Xu Zhiyong
- 2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
- ‘Women Over 30 Would Have Uteruses Removed’; Remarks of CPJ Leader, Novelist Naoki Hyakuta Get Wide Attention