Czech businessman detained by Beijing faces espionage charges and could be part of swap with Chinese spy

First published in Deník N. A Czech businessman has been detained in China since late June on charges of endangering national security, but the local authorities have so far refused to disclose further details. Deník N has uncovered what the man is suspected of and how his first meeting with a Czech diplomat proceeded. Chinese authorities have been holding the Czech businessman for a month but have kept secret what they wanted to charge the man with. Czech authorities did not specify it either. According to diplomatic correspondence seen by Deník N, the detained Czech was charged with espionage. “It was said to concern charges of obtaining and passing on information without any further specification,” stated the report sent by the Czech embassy in Beijing to Prague. The document described the conversation between the detained man and the Czech diplomat, which took place in the first half of July. The meeting was held at the Chinese interior ministry in a windowless room. The Czech was guarded throughout by three uniformed secret service officers, who repeatedly intervened in the conversation. An interpreter was also present at the meeting. “After he was asked whether he knew the scope of the charges against him, the conversation was interrupted and the interpreter consulted with a member of the security forces,” the report stated. After being warned by a secret service officer, the businessman was not allowed to answer the questions. Nor was he allowed to comment on the exact legal classification and definition of the charges. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login