Chinese embassy officials visit researcher detained in Japanese trade secrets case, repeat ‘serious concerns’
- Senior Chinese researcher arrested in Tokyo accused of illegally sending confidential Japanese industrial technology data to a Chinese company
- Case is now before Japanese prosecutors as formal charges loom, report says
Beijing demanded that Japan ensure the “legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens”, the embassy said in a statement.
“The Chinese embassy in Japan conducted consular visits to relevant personnel. It is hoped that the Japanese side will abide by the principles of market economy and fair competition to create a favourable environment for science and technology exchanges and cooperation between the two countries,” the statement said.
On June 15, police in Tokyo arrested Quan Hengdao, a 59-year-old senior researcher at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), on suspicion of illegally sending research data obtained at the institute to a Chinese company.
Fluorine compounds can be used to produce insulating gas for advanced electrical equipment such as transformers.
The case was sent to Japanese prosecutors on June 16, according to The Japan Times. Quan has denied that he leaked confidential industrial technology.
