The Chinese authorities have formally accused a Japanese official from a pharmaceutical company of suspected espionage activities in Beijing.
This issue further complicates the relations between China and Japan and has shaken investors’ confidence in China.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the accused, named Hiroshi Nishiyama, who works for the Estella Pharma company, was detained last March. Japanese media sources indicate that Nishiyama is in his fifties and has been working in China for over two decades.
Bloomberg News reported that Tokyo has repeatedly requested his release.
Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo stated that this matter is related to espionage and pertains to China’s national security.
The detention of the Japanese citizen is one of the recent incidents that have strained relations between China and its largest trading partner, Japan.
Moreover, China has expressed its displeasure over Japan’s decision to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
China also views Tokyo’s efforts to bolster military ties with the United States, South Korea, and other partners as an attempt to contain China.
The developments highlight the precarious nature of relations between the two East Asian nations and the broader implications for regional stability and trade.
An official at Tokyo’s embassy said Thursday that Chinese authorities had escalated his detention into a formal arrest.
“We can confirm that the Japanese national detained in March has been arrested,” the official said in a statement to AFP.
In a separate statement, Tokyo’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Thursday that the man “was arrested in mid-October”.
“We have called on China for his early release at various levels and various opportunities. We will continue this effort,” he said at a regular news briefing.
