OREANDA-NEWS Chinese prosecutors have opened a criminal case against a Japanese citizen on suspicion of espionage, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing on Thursday.

"Recently, the Chinese Prosecutor's office, in accordance with the law, opened a criminal case against a Japanese citizen on suspicion of espionage," the diplomat said, responding to a request from one of the journalists to comment on reports that a Japanese citizen who is an employee of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Group had previously been charged in China.

According to Mao Ning, China hopes that Japan will train and encourage its citizens to comply with Chinese laws and regulations and not engage in illegal and criminal activities in China.