BEIJING, May 16 (News On Japan) - A Japanese man in his 50s was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Chinese court on May 13 under the anti-espionage law, following his December 2021 detention in Shanghai and formal arrest in June 2022 after six months of interrogation.
The anti-espionage law, enacted in 2014 and amended in 2023 to broaden its scope, has increasingly led to the detention of foreign nationals, including Japanese corporate employees. According to Takaguchi, a professor at Chiba University who specializes in China, the core feature of the law is not just punishing espionage but obligating Chinese citizens to report suspected foreign spies. The government actively promotes this through propaganda campaigns and tools such as mobile apps and hotlines that allow for easy anonymous reporting. Public recognition and monetary rewards are also offered. In one case, informants were publicly awarded up to 1–2 million yen, with recipients ranging from taxi drivers to schoolteachers and fishermen.
This growing informant culture, combined with the broad interpretation of what constitutes espionage, has raised concerns among foreign businesspeople operating in China. Takaguchi noted that even seemingly innocuous acts—such as collecting industrial data for market research or accidentally photographing military facilities—can lead to detention under the anti-espionage law. For example, data like the locations and numbers of EV charging stations is now considered sensitive information. Japanese employees conducting legitimate business may unknowingly violate the law.
While simply making negative statements about China is unlikely to result in arrest, possessing military satellite images or downloading large volumes of industrial information from within China could trigger suspicion. Since military facilities are scattered throughout the country, even casual photography can inadvertently capture restricted areas. Map surveying is also considered risky.
As a result, Japanese citizens, especially those stationed in China, are being advised to thoroughly study government-issued guidelines on what constitutes sensitive data. However, Takaguchi warned that ambiguity remains. Many cases may go unnoticed, not because they are legal, but simply because they are not discovered. The lack of transparency over what specifically led to an arrest or conviction makes it difficult for individuals to assess their risk, he said.
The United States and other countries have issued warnings to their nationals about traveling to China, citing the vague nature of the anti-espionage law and the potential for arbitrary detention. Some international academic conferences held in China continue to offer online participation, a sign that foreign researchers remain wary.
The Japanese government has expressed concern over the situation, but actual intervention has been limited. Outside of attending trials or visiting detained nationals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has few options. The larger issue, according to Takaguchi, is the Chinese government’s refusal to disclose what specific acts constituted espionage in such cases, leaving both individuals and foreign governments in the dark.
Takaguchi himself remains cautious when conducting research in China. He avoids purchasing used books that may contain classified information and refrains from any activity that could be interpreted as beyond the scope of his visa.
As China continues to tighten enforcement under its revised anti-espionage law, the risks faced by even ordinary business travelers and researchers are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Source: ABEMA
