Chinese Professor Hu Shiyun Returns to Japan After Disappearance in China
A Chinese professor from Kobe Gakuin University, Hu Shiyun, returned to Japan after going missing in China. His disappearance raised concerns over potential detention, but he is reported to be in good health. The university has yet to decide on his future lectures, amid increasing surveillance under the current Chinese government.
On March 14, 2023, Kobe Gakuin University officials reported that Hu Shiyun, a Chinese professor who had been missing during a temporary visit to China, returned to Japan in January. There are uncertainties regarding whether he was detained by Chinese authorities after entering China in summer 2023.
Hu’s family experienced difficulties in reaching him during his absence, yet he arrived back in Japan on January 24th. He has not disclosed information concerning the reasons for his disappearance, although university representatives confirmed that his health is not in question. The institution has yet to determine if he will resume his lectures for the upcoming term beginning in April.
Hu Shiyun, originally from Jiangsu Province in eastern China, has been employed at Kobe Gakuin University since 2015, specializing in classical Chinese literature. The context of his disappearance is significant, considering the heightened focus on national security by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration, which has intensified surveillance on both foreign affiliated individuals and Chinese citizens.
Furthermore, the Chinese government’s implementation of a revised antiespionage law in July 2023 expanded the definition of espionage, raising apprehensions regarding its broad and ambiguous provisions that may result in arbitrary legal interpretations.
In summary, Professor Hu Shiyun’s return to Japan after an unexplained disappearance during his time in China raises questions regarding potential detention by Chinese authorities. Although he has returned to Japan in good health, the university has yet to comment on his future teaching schedule. This incident occurs within a broader context of increased scrutiny and surveillance under the Chinese government’s national security measures, particularly affecting individuals associated with foreign entities.
Original Source: www.nippon.com
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