China hands 3-1/2-year prison sentence to Astellas' Japanese employee, Nikkei says

A Beijing court on Wednesday sentenced a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma to 3-1/2 years in prison, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing the Japanese ambassador to China.

The man had been detained since March 2023 on suspicion of spying and had been indicted about a year ago.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that the country's judicial authorities handle cases in accordance with the law, when asked a question about a Beijing court sentencing an employee of a Japanese pharmaceutical company to prison for espionage. The question did not name the company.

China has always supported China-Japan economic and trade cooperation, and provides a good environment for the lawful operations of Japanese enterprises and personnel in China, Lin told a regular press briefing.

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