China to release Japanese pharma employee jailed for espionage after 3.5 years

A Japanese employee of pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma is set to be released from a Chinese prison after serving three and a half years, according to Reuters. The individual was jailed in 2023 on espionage charges and indicted in 2024, before receiving a sentence in July 2025, as cited by Kyodo news agency and the Yomiuri newspaper.

The employee was detained in March 2023 on suspicion of spying and their identity and professional affiliation remains undisclosed. Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary expressed regret over the ruling, but neither Astellas Pharma, Japan's foreign ministry, nor the Chinese embassy in Tokyo responded to requests for comment. The case has heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, with bilateral relations already strained over security concerns and disputes over Taiwan.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had previously stated that China's alleged attack on democratically governed Taiwan could prompt a military response from Japan, further worsening relations. China has since warned its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, citing safety concerns, and has restricted exports of rare earths and other minerals to Japan, vital materials used in various industries.