Wed Jul 16 05:57:25 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, written from an Indian perspective and formatted for a general news audience:

**Summary:**

A Japanese businessman has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in China on espionage charges. The Japanese Embassy in Beijing has protested the sentencing, calling it “regrettable” and citing concerns over the increasing number of Japanese citizens detained in China under its anti-spying laws. The case is expected to further strain relations between Japan and China.

**News Article:**

**Tensions Rise as China Sentences Japanese Businessman on Espionage Charges**

**Beijing, July 16, 2025 (The Hindu) -** A Japanese businessman was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in China on Wednesday on espionage charges, further escalating tensions between the two East Asian nations. The Japanese Embassy in Beijing confirmed the sentencing, expressing strong reservations about the legal proceedings.

The individual, identified by Japan’s Kyodo News Agency as a man in his 60s employed by Astellas Pharma Inc., was detained in March 2023 and formally charged in August. The specific details of the alleged espionage activities have not been publicly disclosed. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court handed down the sentence, with Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, present at the ruling. However, Japanese reporters were reportedly barred from the courtroom.

The Japanese government has strongly protested the increasing number of detentions of its citizens in China, particularly since the enactment of China’s anti-spying law in 2014. According to Kyodo News, 17 Japanese citizens have been detained since the law came into effect, with five remaining in custody.

In a statement, the Japanese Embassy termed the sentencing “regrettable” and asserted that such detentions pose a significant obstacle to improving diplomatic ties and public sentiment between the two countries.

This incident adds to the complex geopolitical landscape in Asia, where India also maintains a keen eye on the evolving dynamics between China and Japan.

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