A Japanese businessman detained in Beijing since March last year on suspicion of espionage has been indicted by Chinese prosecutors, a Japanese government source said Wednesday, with the forthcoming court proceedings expected to prolong his time in custody.
A spokesperson for Astellas Pharma Inc. confirmed that the man, an executive at the company's local subsidiary, had been indicted but declined to comment further due to the ongoing legal process. The Japanese government will continue its efforts to secure his early release.
The case is expected to be tried at the Intermediate People's Court in Beijing. There are concerns the prolonged detention of the man, a former senior official of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China who is in his 50s, could negatively impact Japanese investment in China and bilateral exchanges.
He was detained on March 20 last year, just before his scheduled return to Japan, and formally arrested in October. Chinese authorities launched a process to examine whether to indict him this March.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated his call for the businessman's release during a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November last year.
Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi met with the detained citizen in January and March this year, his predecessor Hideo Tarumi having done so last November.
According to the source, Japanese Embassy officials conducted their 16th consular visit with him on July 23.
The businessman reportedly told embassy officials he has no health problems, having already been supplied with medication for his preexisting condition of high blood pressure. The embassy will continue to provide necessary support to the man, including contacting his family.
Under Xi's leadership, China has emphasized national security in all fields, be they political, economic or cultural, and has increased surveillance of foreigners and foreign companies.
In July last year, Beijing implemented a revised counterespionage law that broadened the scope of what constitutes spying activities to safeguard national security, with a revised law on guarding state secrets having taken effect in May this year.
Since China's counterespionage law first came into force in 2014, 17 Japanese citizens, including the Astellas employee, have been detained for alleged involvement in spying activities. Five remain in custody, according to Japan's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
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