A 45-year old first secretary at the Chinese embassy is suspected of spying on businessmen and politicians, as investigated by the National Police Agency of the National Public Safety Commission which deals with Chinese espionage.
The Chinese diplomat, temporarily back in China, is believed to be working under direction of the General Staff Headquarters which gathers military intelligence.
The first secretary was asked by the Metropolitan Police Department to undergo questioning but the embassy refused. Police are investigating on speculations that he may have used fake documents to hide his diplomatic status and could charge him with violations of the Alien Registration Law. He was also associated with a health food company working as an executive and earned 100,000 yen ($1,300) a month which violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, banning diplomats from conducting personal commercial activities.
The first secretary frequently visited Japan as a university researcher and a foreign intern on different occasions.