The man, an executive at Astellas Pharma Inc's local subsidiary and former senior official of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, was detained on March 20, 2023, just before his scheduled return to Japan. He was formally arrested in October.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has previously called for the businessman's release during a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023.
The Japanese government will continue its efforts to secure his early release, according to the government source.
The case has raised concerns about potential negative impacts on Japanese investment in China and bilateral exchanges. Since 2014, 17 Japanese citizens have been detained in China for alleged involvement in spying activities, with five currently remaining in custody, according to Japan's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
