Advertisement
Japanese ‘spy’ detained in China last month allowed to return home
- The man, named by China’s foreign ministry as Nobu Iwatani, reportedly confessed to collecting a large amount of ‘classified information’
- Japanese media have identified him as a professor from Hokkaido University who previously worked for the Japan’s defence and foreign ministries
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
A Japanese man reportedly detained by Beijing on allegations of spying has been released and returned to his home country, government officials in Tokyo said on Friday.
Advertisement
Tokyo confirmed last month that a Japanese man in his 40s had been held by Chinese authorities since September on suspicion of violating Chinese laws, without providing details.
Japanese media have identified him as a professor from Hokkaido University who was detained on suspicion of spying.
“We confirmed his return … I’m glad he is back to Japan safely,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters without disclosing the details of the charges.
Advertisement
“This is a case that Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe and I strongly pressed on China and this has borne fruit.”
In Beijing, China’s foreign ministry said the man – who they identified as Nobu Iwatani – confessed to collecting a large amount of “classified information”.
Advertisement