Official statements from the Japanese government or verified reports in international media

Japanese Woman Sentenced to Six Years for 2015 Espionage in China Related to Senkaku Islands

Dec 31, 2024, 06:06 AM

A Japanese woman, detained in 2015 during a business trip to Shanghai, has been sentenced to six years in prison for espionage. The woman, in her sixties, was accused of meeting with officials from the Chinese embassy in Japan between 2012 and 2013 to gather information on their views regarding the disputed Senkaku Islands. This information was reportedly relayed to Japanese government officials. The case marks the first instance of espionage charges being applied to a Japanese national for actions taken in Japan, raising concerns about potential Chinese intelligence activities within Japan. The Japanese government was aware of the situation but did not publicly disclose it until now.