A Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma who was detained in March 2023 in Beijing by Chinese authorities has now been indicted on suspicion of espionage, according to reporting by Reuters and other Japanese media.
Astellas confirmed to Endopints News that one of the company’s employees had been formally charged.
“As the trial is ongoing, we cannot provide any further information at this time,” a spokesperson wrote in an email. “We will continue to collaborate with relevant parties and respond appropriately to ensure the health and safety of our employee.”
China’s foreign ministry also said during a regular press conference on Thursday that a Japanese citizen had been indicted, Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, the Astellas employee is in his 50s and was formally arrested last October before finally being charged in mid-August. The Jiji Press reported that he was detained just before a scheduled return to Japan. Astellas’ Japan office could not be reached for comment.
The Asahi Shimbun, an Asia-focused publication, reported that the exact nature of the charges against the employee aren’t clear, and that officials from the Japanese embassy in Beijing have been meeting with the Astellas employee every month, confirming that he has no health issues. Japanese officials have been demanding the man’s release.
China revised its anti-espionage law last year, expanding the coverage of the law and unnerving foreign businesses and investors.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include comment from Astellas.