Astellas Employee Imprisoned in China to Be Released in December, Japanese Media Report

A Japanese national employed by Astellas Pharma, who received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for espionage in China, is slated for release in mid-December. He is expected to be returned to Japan following his release. The employee was initially detained in March 2023 and subsequently indicted and sentenced in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

• A Japanese Astellas Pharma employee, sentenced to 3.5 years for espionage in China, will be released in mid-December.
• He is expected to be returned to Japan.
• The employee was detained in March 2023, indicted in August 2024, and sentenced in July 2025.
• Japanese media, including Kyodo news agency and Yomiuri newspaper, reported the news citing sources.
• Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary called the ruling “extremely regrettable.”