Key Facts
• July 16: Beijing court sentenced a Japanese Astellas Pharma employee to 3.5 years.
• The 60s-aged man was convicted of espionage for allegedly sharing Chinese information.
• Chinese court linked the case to Japan’s Public Security Intelligence Agency.
• Appeal deadline is July 28, but the man intends not to appeal.
• If finalized, 2 years of pre-trial detention will count toward the sentence.
• Remaining prison term is estimated at 1.5 years.
• Japan’s ambassador met the man, who said he would consult his lawyer.
Summary
A Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma, in his 60s, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison by a Beijing court on July 16 for espionage. The court ruled that providing information about China to Japanese intelligence agencies constituted spying. While the exact nature of the information remains unclear, the case echoes previous convictions involving Japan’s Public Security Intelligence Agency. The man has until July 28 to appeal but has expressed no intention to do so. If the sentence is finalized, Chinese law allows for at least two years of pre-trial detention to be deducted, leaving approximately 1.5 years of imprisonment. Japan’s ambassador to China met with the man, who stated he would consult his lawyer before making a final decision.
