China is investigating six Japanese citizens on suspected illegal activities, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing that the six Japanese nationals were suspected of engaging in illegal activities, and China has informed the Japanese consulate of their detainment.
Kyodo News previously reported that China had detained six Japanese in March, three each in Shandong and Hainan provinces.
When asked to comment on a New York Times report, which said several U.S. Central Intelligence Agency sources had been captured in China in recent years, Hua said she was not aware of the situation mentioned in the New York Times report, but said that "Chinese security authorities are following their legal mandate to carry out investigations about organizations, personnel and actions that harm Chinese national security and interests and handle relevant affairs."
