中方以“司法交易”促使安斯泰来员工坦白

Core Viewpoint - The case of the Astellas Pharma employee being sentenced for espionage highlights the complexities of Sino-Japanese relations and the implications of China's legal system on foreign nationals [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court sentenced the Astellas employee to 3 years and 6 months in prison for espionage, recognizing his actions of receiving compensation for providing information to a Japanese agency as espionage activities [1][2]. - The Chinese authorities encouraged the employee to confess, indicating that a guilty plea could lead to a lighter sentence, which reflects a judicial transaction in this rare case involving a Japanese national [2]. - The legal basis for the plea deal stems from the revised Criminal Procedure Law implemented in October 2018, which allows for reduced sentences in exchange for confessions [2]. Group 2: Background Information - The detained individual, over 60 years old, had served as a senior executive for Astellas in China for more than 20 years and was previously the vice president of the China Japan Chamber of Commerce [3]. - The employee was detained in March 2023 as he was preparing to return to Japan, indicating a strategic timing by Chinese authorities [3]. - The case is part of ongoing tensions between China and Japan, with the Chinese leadership closely monitoring relations with neighboring countries amid broader geopolitical dynamics [2].