Japan's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador after a Japanese journalist was detained in the Russian Far East, according to 新华网客户端. The ministry said it made representations to Moscow over the arrest, 央视网 reports.
Russia's foreign ministry responded that it is unacceptable for Japan to use news reporting as a cover for intelligence activity, according to 中国日报网. The ministry said the use of journalists stationed in Russia to gather information would worsen relations between the two countries, 手机新浪网 reports.
Moscow also repeated its call for Japan to abandon what it called hostile actions and to improve bilateral ties, according to 中华网. The two countries have not signed a formal post-war peace treaty, and their relationship has remained strained.
The competing accounts leave the journalist's identity, the location of the detention and the specific allegations unconfirmed. Each side has framed the incident differently: Tokyo describes it as a consular and diplomatic matter, while Moscow characterizes it as an intelligence case.
What to watch next: whether Russia files formal charges, whether Japan is granted consular access to the journalist, and whether the dispute prompts further diplomatic measures from either side.
