China hands Japanese man 5 1/2 years in prison for state secret theft

The man imprisoned without knowing why - “geological survey.” ... “no concrete actions” - perhaps he mistakenly came across their underground nuclear missile testing facility?

@akie

Chip Star, if the court is not open to the public, how do you know he was sentenced to 5 years and half ?

I always have to stop and make sure what I'm reading isn't sarcasm with these comments...

darknuts, the best spy is unthinkable spy, Japan knows that very well.

Still holding o. To your belief that this guy was a spy?

We're not terribly far off here, frankly, and as more time passes Japan is becoming more like it's neighbour.

Exactly! Well said Smith!

Chip Star: "China is such a peaceful and open society, isn't it?"

We're not terribly far off here, frankly, and as more time passes Japan is becoming more like it's neighbour.

Ganbare Japan: "Because there is no evidence produced that he is a spy."

Wow, you've seen all the evidence or the lack thereof? None of the rest of us have.

@dark--"a bit old for being a spy"--yeah, even spies need to retire and collect their pensions sometime. Otherwise countries would often hire retirement-age spies to do their dirty work. One plus for aged spies is they would be doing less time in prison. In this case, a 5 1/2 sentence could be more a symbolic warning to other careless contractors than their legal code's recommended punishment for a serious spying violation.

This man is part of a geological survey team that was hired by a Chinese corporation to search for thermal vents for a hot spring resort.

As I speculated when they were first arrested, their equipment was probably mistaken for spy equipment (ground penetrating radars, acoustic resonance scanners, etc), and China is trying to save face, or they were photographing submarines and warships, esp the new aircraft carrier under construction at Hainan island (that are in plain view).

Mapping data in general is considered state-secret level in China.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China

darknuts, the best spy is unthinkable spy, Japan knows that very well.

Isn't that a bit old for being a spy?

It depends. The Navy docks at Hainan are in plain view, and tourists are generally tolerated to photograph them. I think some overzealous cop saw them and their equipment, and made the wrong conclusion.

Isn't that a bit for being a spy?

This man is part of a geological survey team that was hired by a Chinese corporation to search for thermal vents for a hot spring resort.

As I speculated when they were first arrested, their equipment was probably mistaken for spy equipment (ground penetrating radars, acoustic resonance scanners, etc), and China is trying to save face, or they were photographing submarines and warships, esp the new aircraft carrier under construction at Hainan island (that are in plain view).

@Akie

His sentence could have been much worse than 5 and half years.

I believe you, there are many state secrets hidden in the grounds, 15 millions Chinese that died during the Great Leap Forward for instance. All buried in the ground?

This is how the CCP treats its friends people, the geologist is lucky he didn't get charged for 'unspecified' act against China.

Akie, perhaps you could make a few calls...

70 years old... and still working, damn..

Chip Star- 100% on the money! As usual. Regardless of whether or not he is a spy, China is a beligerent country that needs to be sanctioned, ostracized and condemned

Heh, it's cute watching Chinese try to pretend like their system of oppression of the people can be justified.

They think we're going to be as easy to brainwash as they were1

Chip Star, if the court is not open to the public, how do you know he was sentenced to 5 years and half ?

The verdicts are announced, but the procedures, evidence, and trial are all kept secret. It's an insult to justice. Absolutely repugnant in this day and age.

Chip Star, if the court is not open to the public, how do you know he was sentenced to 5 years and half ?

Use a 70 year old man as a spy, what is Japan doing ?

There is no way you can know he was a spy because courts in China are not open to the public, unlike in truly open countries where justice matters.

Because there is no evidence produced that he is a spy.

Chinese courts don't release evidence to the public. This means we are correct to be skeptical of the conviction, it does not mean we can know there was no evidence.

He is political pawn used by Communists.

More speculation.

How can you know this?

Because there is no evidence produced that he is a spy.

What concrete actions had been deemed illegal or other details of the case remain unknown, the sources said.

He is political pawn used by Communists.

Use a 70 year old man as a spy, what is Japan doing ?

Outrageous. This old man is not a spy, he is just being punished because he is Japanese. 

How can you know this?

This is because someone didn't get paid off.

Outrageous. This old man is not a spy, he is just being punished because he is Japanese. Summon the Chinese Ambassador in Tokyo immediately to lodge official protest.

Closed courts = shams, which means we can safely dountbthe veracity of the conviction. China is such a peaceful and open society, isn't it?