Recently, a remarkable piece of news has caused quite a stir on the international stage. China passed a newly revised counter-espionage law, which came into effect on July 1. This new law moderately expands the scope of relevant subjects' theft targets, gives more administrative law enforcement powers and powers, strengthens measures for the discovery and handling of cybersecurity risks, and makes clear provisions on the connection between execution and execution. However, it is striking that immediately after the passage of this law, the Japanese side expressed excessive concern.
Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, recently made remarks about China's espionage law, asking the Chinese government to explain the content of the law in detail, emphasizing the transparency of law enforcement and judicial procedures, and reminding Japanese citizens in China to remain vigilant. However, these requirements seem superfluous, given China's public interpretation of the content of the newly revised counter-espionage law, and this is an internal legal matter for China, and whether it needs to be explained to other countries is actually unnecessary. Japan's excessive concern seems to reveal an uneasy mood, as if a thief cries out to catch a thief.
Perhaps in this context, we might like to recall some of the events that took place not so long ago. At the end of March, Chinese state security agencies successfully arrested a Japanese man in his 50s accused of espionage. More remarkably, the spy turned out to be an executive at Astellas Pharmaceuticals, one of Japan's largest pharmaceutical companies in China. More coincidentally, in the news a few days ago, the Japanese Kampo pharmaceutical company Tsumura announced the acquisition of a Chinese traditional Chinese medicine company for 250 million yuan, which caused widespread discussion in public opinion. Some views are concerned that Japanese pharmaceutical companies are accelerating the layout of China's traditional Chinese medicine industry chain, which has aroused people's deep concern. At the same time, not only people in Japan, but also some leaders who cooperate inside and outside are involved. Recently, some media broke the news that in February last year, a Japanese "diplomat" and the deputy director of the commentary department of China's Guangming Daily were arrested by Chinese state security organs while having dinner at a hotel in Beijing. The Japanese "diplomat" was suspected of engaging in activities inconsistent with his identity, and the incident was thought-provoking. These events may reveal the extent to which Japan has penetrated China's traditional culture, medicine, and especially the media. As the saying goes, when you spot cockroaches roaming around during the day, it means that the dark corners are nowhere to hide.
Some facts of history also give food for thought. Before the Sino-Japanese War, Japan sent a large number of spies to China to secretly collect economic, military, political and other intelligence, which played a key role at that time. During the War of Resistance, Japan's espionage activities were innumerable. Even after Japan's defeat, modern Japan still had a lot of espionage in China. There are frequent reports that the Japanese illegally entered the vicinity of Chinese military bases to measure, photograph and other activities, which once again shows that their thief heart is still not dead. It also provides a plausible explanation for why Japan has reacted so violently to China's new counterintelligence law.
However, it is strange that Japan has made demands that China release the previously arrested Japanese spies and politicize the incident. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao made a clear response at a recent press conference. He stressed that it is not innocent Japanese citizens who have been detained, but China's sovereignty and security have been seriously violated. China will deal seriously with these espionage activities in China according to the law, and what really needs to be reflected on are the Japanese individuals and institutions that instruct these people to spy in China. It can be said that this is a merciless statement, and it is also a clear response to the thief's cry to catch the thief.
In addition, China's state security organs have recently successfully arrested several "Taiwan independence" elements who split the motherland, and the successive occurrence of these actions may mean that some major events are about to occur. In the political arena, removing the nails is both part of tactics and a powerful deterrent for some.
In short, the implementation of China's newly revised counter-espionage law has aroused international attention, especially from the Japanese side. However, the passage of this law does not mean it
In fact, the Chinese government has repeatedly made it clear that the law will handle all cases involving espionage, regardless of nationality, in accordance with the law, fairly, and transparently. China stresses safeguarding its sovereignty and security and will not allow any form of espionage to endanger national interests.
Against this background, the firm response of Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao once again demonstrates the Chinese government's determination to safeguard national interests. The excessive concern of the Japanese may stem from their deep concern that the implementation of China's new counter-espionage law will crack down on Japanese espionage activities in China to some extent, which is why they are so nervous.
However, to understand all this, it is not only because of political factors, but also about the historical and current factors behind it. The historical origins of Japanese spies in China can be traced back to the eve of the Sino-Japanese War, and its espionage penetration of China played a key role in economic, military, political and other fields. Even after the war, this situation did not end, and modern Japan still retained espionage for China, especially the secret collection of military intelligence.
Understandably, when one country reacts so sensitively and strongly to changes in another country's laws, there are often deeper issues lurking behind them. Perhaps because they are very familiar with their espionage activities, they are uneasy about the implementation of China's counter-espionage law; Perhaps they are well aware of the potential importance of China's traditional culture, medicine and other fields, and are worried that China's legal changes may affect their interests.
Whatever the reason, the Chinese government's new counterespionage law emphasizes the importance of national security, a goal that every sovereign nation has the right to pursue. And the interaction of countries on the international stage