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China reportedly detains two Japanese men on spying charges China arrests two Japanese men on spying charges
(about 5 hours later)
China is holding two Japanese men on espionage charges, a newspaper said on Wednesday, a report that prompted Tokyo to deny spying on China or any other country. China has confirmed it is holding two Japanese men on espionage charges, prompting a furious denial from Tokyo that it spies on its neighbour or any other country.
Japanese media said the two men, both from the private sector, had been in custody for several months.
One was taken into custody in China’s north-east province of Liaoning near the border with North Korea and the other in the eastern province of Zhejiang near a military facility, the Asahi newspaper said.
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The Asahi newspaper said the two men, both from the private sector, had been in custody for several months. One was taken into custody in China’s northeast province of Liaoning near the border with North Korea and the other in the eastern province of Zhejiang near a military facility, the paper said. It added that China appeared to be looking into whether the men were acting under instructions from the Japanese government.
The newspaper added China appeared to be looking into whether the men were acting under instructions from the Japanese government. Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that “relevant authorities” had arrested the two people “in accordance with the law for engaging in espionage activities in China”.
He added: “China has already notified the Japanese side of the relevant situation.”
Kyodo News reported that the two men were in their 50s, and quoted an unnamed source as saying that a third Japanese man had been arrested on similar charges.
Japanese officials said they were aware of only two arrests, and denied that Japan was spying on its neighbour.
“We are aware of the reports but would like to refrain for commenting on specific incidents,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference.“We are aware of the reports but would like to refrain for commenting on specific incidents,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference.
“Our country in every case is making every effort concerning the safety of our citizens overseas.” “Our country in every case is making every effort concerning the safety of our citizens overseas.
Asked if Japan was involved in any spying against China, Suga again declined comment on any specific cases but added: “Our country is certainly not doing such things. I would like to say that this is the same with regard to all countries.“ “I’m not going to comment on individual cases … but our country is certainly not doing such things. I would like to say that this is the same with regard to all countries.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen a tightening of already strict security laws and regulations, including setting up a new national security commission and renaming the national security law, which took effect in 1993, as the Counterespionage Law. The arrests are likely to add to tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Bilateral ties have improved slightly in the wake of two meetings between the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, since last November.
In 2010, four Japanese nationals were temporarily detained in China on suspicion of entering a military zone and taking photographs without permission. The detentions came at a time of escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. But the countries are embroiled in a long-running territorial dispute and disagreements over wartime history.
Sino-Japanese relations, coloured by Japan’s occupation of parts of China before and during the second world war, have thawed since prime minister Shinzo Abe met Xi twice since last November. Xi has overseen a tightening of already strict security laws and regulations, including setting up a new national security commission and renaming the national security law, which took effect in 1993, as the Counterespionage Law.
This is not the first time China has detained Japanese nationals on spying charges.
In 2010, four Japanese who worked for the computer firm Fujitsu were temporarily detained in China on suspicion of entering a military zone and taking photographs without permission.
The detentions came at a time of escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over ownership of the Senkakus, a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by both countries but administered by Japan.
China recently acknowledged it had been holding a US citizen, Sandy Phan-Gillis, for about six months under suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets. Details of her detention emerged as Xi began his recent visit to the US.