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Japan: China Detains 2 Japanese on Suspicion of Espionage Japan: China Detains 2 Japanese on Suspicion of Espionage
(about 7 hours later)
Two Japanese citizens have been detained in China on suspicion of spying, the Japanese foreign ministry said Wednesday, a development that could hamper efforts to improve strained relations between the two Asian powers. The detentions, which occurred back in May, were said to involve diplomats from Japan, China and South Korea working to arrange a summit meeting for their leaders, and days after China arrested an American businesswoman, Phan Phan-Gillis, also accused of spying. Ties between Japan and China have been frayed over their wartime history and disputes over maritime territory. The Japanese foreign ministry declined to identify the detainees, both men, whose detention was first reported by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Asked if Japan had sent spies to China, a government spokesman said: “As a nation, we absolutely do not do that. I want to say the same thing to all countries.” Reuters quoted Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, as saying that the two were being held “in accordance with the law for engaging in espionage activities in China.” According to the newspaper, one man was taken into custody near a military facility south of Shanghai, and the other near the North Korean border. The Japanese broadcaster NHK said it was investigating reports that a third national may have been detained around the same time. Two Japanese citizens have been detained in China on suspicion of spying, the Japanese foreign ministry said Wednesday, a development that could hamper efforts to improve strained relations between the two Asian powers. The detentions, which occurred in May, were reported as diplomats from Japan, China and South Korea were working to arrange a summit meeting for their leaders, and days after China arrested an American businesswoman, Phan Phan-Gillis, also accused of spying. Ties between Japan and China have been frayed over their wartime history and disputes over maritime territory. The Japanese foreign ministry declined to identify the detainees, both men, whose detention was first reported by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Asked if Japan had sent spies to China, a government spokesman said: “As a nation, we absolutely do not do that. I want to say the same thing to all countries.” Reuters quoted Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, as saying that the two were being held “in accordance with the law for engaging in espionage activities in China.” According to the newspaper, one man was taken into custody near a military facility south of Shanghai, and the other near the North Korean border. The Japanese broadcaster NHK said it was investigating reports that a third national may have been detained around the same time.