Wed Jul 16 06:53:07 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article based on it:

**Summary:**

A Japanese businessman, an Astellas Pharma employee in his 60s, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in China for espionage. He was detained in March 2023 and formally arrested in October. The Japanese embassy in Beijing is protesting the sentence, demanding his release, humane treatment, and transparency in the judicial process. This case is part of a larger pattern, with 17 Japanese citizens detained in China since 2014 under the country’s counterespionage law.

**News Article:**

**Japanese Pharma Employee Sentenced to 3.5 Years in China for Espionage**

**BEIJING** – A Japanese businessman and employee of Astellas Pharma Inc. has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges, the Japanese embassy in Beijing announced Wednesday. The man, in his 60s, was initially detained in March 2023 and formally arrested in October.

The sentence has sparked strong condemnation from Japan. “In light of the sentence, we have once again strongly urged the Chinese side for the early release of the Japanese national concerned in this case as well as others detained,” the embassy stated. They also called for China to guarantee the “legitimate rights and humane treatment during detention” of its citizens and to “improve the transparency of the judicial process.”

Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi described the verdict as “extremely regrettable” following the trial at Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court.

This case is the latest in a series of detentions of Japanese citizens in China, with Tokyo voicing increasing concerns. According to Kyodo News Agency, 17 Japanese nationals have been detained since China implemented its counterespionage law in 2014. Five of those individuals, including the Astellas Pharma employee, remain in Chinese custody. The detentions have strained relations between the two countries, raising questions about the application of Chinese law and the safety of Japanese citizens operating within China.

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