BEIJING — A Japanese man was sentenced Wednesday to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing.
The embassy did not identify the man, who has been detained since March 2023. Japan's Kyodo News Agency described him as a man in his 60s and an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., a major Japanese pharmaceutical company.
The man was charged with espionage in August and his first hearing was held in November but no details were released.
The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court did not immediately make an announcement after handing down the sentence.
Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese ambassador to China, called the sentencing ''extremely regrettable." The Japanese government has protested a series of detentions of its citizens in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that judicial authorities had handled the case in strict accordance with the law and that China provides a sound environment for Japanese companies and workers.
"As long as foreign nationals in China abide by the law and engage in lawful employment, there is nothing to worry about,'' he said.
A total of 17 Japanese citizens with business or other connections to China have been detained since 2014, when China enacted the anti-spying law. Five remain in China, Kyodo reported. A Japanese diplomat was detained for questioning in 2022 and released hours later, prompting strong protests from Japan.
