The detention of Japanese and other foreigners for espionage is a ploy to leverage favorable policies toward China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi seems to suggest.
Xi Jinping has made seemingly unwise decisions slowing China's economic growth, causing some to call him "stupid." But what if this is exactly what he wants?
Diplomacy has resolved none of the major issues with China. Japan needs its own counterespionage law and other measures if it wants to see results.
What is behind the growing number of Japanese and other foreigners detained under China's counterespionage law? The author provides several case studies.
Seventeen Japanese citizens have been detained in China since its vague counterespionage law took effect. The Japanese government's response has been feeble.
The Sankei Shimbun recently surveyed 118 Japanese companies to understand their apprehensions and strategies concerning China's revised counterespionage law.
China's revised counterespionage law increases the risks for foreigners in China from arbitrary accusations of espionage from violations only China can define.
China has put in arbitrary detention at least 17 Japanese, and many other foreigners, since it enacted a counterespionage law in 2014.