China is expected to soon decide whether to formally arrest a Japanese businessman detained in Beijing since March on suspicion of espionage, sources familiar with the bilateral relationship said Wednesday.
The Chinese government recently informed Tokyo that the Japanese national has been placed in criminal detention, which under Chinese law allows for a person to be held for up to 37 days while authorities decide on a formal arrest.
Beijing has not responded to Tokyo's repeated requests to quickly release the employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma.