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Vol. 3 · No. 312 Every side. Side by side. Sunday, November 8, 2026
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Astellas employee held in China expected to be released in December

The Japan Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Japanese Astellas Pharma employee imprisoned in China for espionage is expected to be released Dec. 14.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk

A Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma who was sentenced in China to three years and six months in prison on an espionage charge is expected to be released in mid-December and return to Japan, unnamed sources told The Japan Times1.

The paper said Saturday that final arrangements were being made for a Dec. 14 release of the employee, who is in his 60s1.

Chinese authorities detained him in March 2023 as he was about to leave China after a Beijing assignment, according to the report, and he was indicted in August 20241.

The Japan Times did not publish an on-record comment from Astellas, the Japanese government or Chinese authorities in the portion of the article available1.

Sources

  1. The Japan TimesAstellas employee to be released from China prison in December

Read the original at The Japan Times ↗

How it’s being reported

2 sources

First reported by The Japan TimesThe Japan Times

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The Japan TimesThe Japan Times

Astellas employee to be released from China prison in December

Release date of Dec. 14 and timeline of detention since March 2023

Citing unnamed sources, the paper said an Astellas employee in his 60s sentenced in China for espionage is expected to be released Dec. 14.

Release date of Dec. 14 and timeline of detention since March 2023

What it reports

  • Final arrangements were being made for a Dec. 14 release of the employee, who is in his 60s.
  • Chinese authorities detained him in March 2023 as he was about to leave after a Beijing assignment; he was indicted in August 2024.
Read the original at The Japan Times Read the full article at The Japan Times