China Discloses Sentencing of British National to Jail in 2022 for Espionage
China disclosed that a British citizen, Ian J Stones, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for espionage in 2022.
Despite an appeal, which was rejected last September, the Chinese Foreign Ministry made the situation public only recently.
Stones, who has worked in China for 40 years with major US companies such as General Motors and Pfizer, was accused of illegally collecting intelligence for foreign entities.
Responding to a Wall Street Journal article about Stones, Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin insisted the trial was fair and his legal rights were fully protected.
UK consulate officials were allowed to visit and observe the trial. China continues to highlight cases of alleged Western espionage and encourages citizens to report suspected espionage activities, amid recent claims of detaining someone for spying on behalf of Britain's MI6.
Stones, who has worked in China for 40 years with major US companies such as General Motors and Pfizer, was accused of illegally collecting intelligence for foreign entities.
Responding to a Wall Street Journal article about Stones, Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin insisted the trial was fair and his legal rights were fully protected.
UK consulate officials were allowed to visit and observe the trial. China continues to highlight cases of alleged Western espionage and encourages citizens to report suspected espionage activities, amid recent claims of detaining someone for spying on behalf of Britain's MI6.
