The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an exclusive report Thursday revealing that UK businessman Ian J. Stones, who spent decades working in China and disappeared from public view in 2018, was actually convicted of espionage and is being held by the Chinese government.

The Financial Times questioned Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin about the article in a regular press conference. Wenbin clarified that Stones had been convicted of “buying and unlawfully supplying intelligence for an organization or an individual outside China,” receiving a 5-year sentence. Wenbin said the ruling took place in August 2022 in Beijing No.2 Intermediate People’s Court, with Stones immediately appealing against the ruling. This appeal was dismissed in September 2023. Wenbin emphasized that “[t]he Chinese courts heard the trial strictly in accordance with the law, guaranteed Ian J. Stones’ various procedural rights and allowed the UK to visit him and sit in on the sentencing.”

Stones is about 70 years old and was previously employed by General Motors and Pfizer before establishing his own investment management consulting firm about 15 years ago, according to WSJ. Stones’ daughter claimed that embassy individuals and one family member were permitted to attend one hearing, but they were all barred from the actual trial. She also stated they were not allowed to see any legal documents pertaining to the case. She alleged that her father, healthy when detained, received “inconsistent medical care and poor nutrition leading to severe and life-threatening injuries.”

Foreign businesses have long been hesitant to operate in China, with British travel guidance warning of the “broad scope” of “national security” and “national interest” within Chinese legislation, and of “arbitrary detention, including of British nationals.” In 2023 China passed several amendments to the Counter-Espionage Law of the People’s Republic of China.  Notably, Article 4’s definition of “Acts of espionage” appears to expand its traditional definition to include actions “carried out, instigated or funded” by people “other than espionage organizations and their representatives.” It also provides no exact definition of “espionage activities” or the “national security, honor and interests.” This legislation has been the topic of much international rights-based critique since its introduction.

There have been many other espionage cases like Stones’ within the last decade, including: the detainment of 17 Japanese citizens since 2014; the 2021 arrest of Australian journalist Cheng Lei; the 2023 life-sentence given to 78-year-old US citizen John Shing-wan Leung; and the recent detention of Huang Moumou, an alleged spy for the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).