Ian J. Stones, a British businessperson in China, was confirmed to have been sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 on an espionage charge, according to Beijing, Associated Press reports.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not provide specific details about the charges but mentioned Stones was convicted of providing intelligence to “external forces.” Stones appealed his conviction, but the court upheld the ruling in September 2023.
Stones, 70, had worked in China for about 40 years with past employers including General Motors and Pfizer before establishing a consulting firm, Navisino Partners, about 15 years ago.
The case raised concerns about arbitrary detentions in China under the national security law, with both the UK and the US warning about the risks. Raids on foreign company offices and increased restrictions on data transfer have further alarmed the business community.
