TOKYO — Two Japanese citizens were detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of smuggling, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced in Tokyo. One individual was detained on May 18, and the second was taken into custody one week later in connection with the same alleged case.

Kihara stated that Japanese consular offices in Shenyang and Dalian received notifications from Chinese customs authorities regarding the detentions. He added that the two detained citizens were in good health. Kihara declined to provide additional details about the identities of the individuals or the specifics of the case, citing privacy considerations and an ongoing investigation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed the detentions, noting that the two Japanese citizens violated Chinese laws. "What we would like to emphasize is that the Japanese side should educate and remind Japanese citizens and enterprises in China to abide by Chinese laws and regulations," Guo said.

Kyodo News reported that the two detained Japanese nationals are employees of a major Japanese machinery manufacturer. One of the citizens works at the Chinese subsidiary of this machinery maker.

China had previously banned the export to Japan of dual-use goods with potential military applications five months before these detentions. Trade data indicates that exports of rare earth magnets from China have reduced since the implementation of these export controls. A Japanese man detained in China since March 2023 was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on espionage charges last year. Separately, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested late last year that Chinese military action against Taiwan could justify a Japanese military response.