Chinese authorities have detained a Japanese man in his 50s in Shanghai, although details of the detention and the reason for it remain unknown, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Since 2015, 16 Japanese citizens have been detained in China on various charges including espionage. At least 10 have been indicted and nine have received prison sentences of up to 15 years.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a regular press conference in Tokyo that the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked China, through its consulate general in Shanghai, to have an opportunity to meet with the man and called for his early release. He is in good health, Matsuno added.
The government's top spokesman also said Japan has lodged a protest against China over the death of a Japanese man in his 70s who was detained in Beijing in 2015 and given a 12-year prison term for spying.
The man, who died of illness this month at a Beijing hospital, used to work for an airline and often visited China as a consultant, according to sources well-informed about Sino-Japanese relations.
China has been stepping up its watch over foreign organizations and individuals in the name of protecting national security since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.
A number of other foreign nationals have also been held in China, particularly after a counterespionage law took effect in 2014 and a national security law in 2015.
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