What's happened
Japanese professor Fan Yuntao, an expert in international law and politics at Asia University in Tokyo, has gone missing in Shanghai after returning from Japan in February 2023. The Japanese government has expressed concern over his disappearance, highlighting fears among academics in Japan about potential risks when traveling to China.
Why it matters
The disappearance of Professor Fan Yuntao raises concerns about academic freedom and safety in China, particularly for Japanese scholars. It underscores the challenges faced by academics working on sensitive topics and the potential risks of operating in countries with opaque legal systems. The incident also highlights the delicate balance Japan must navigate in addressing such cases without jeopardizing bilateral relations with China.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reports that academics in Japan have expressed deep concerns about the safety of scholars traveling to China and the Japanese government's ability to intervene in such cases. On the other hand, The Japan Times emphasizes the government's close monitoring of the situation and the broader implications for academic freedom and human rights.
How we got here
Professor Fan Yuntao, a Chinese national teaching in Japan, disappeared after returning to Shanghai in February 2023. His expertise in international law and politics, particularly on China's Belt and Road Initiative, has raised speculation about the reasons behind his disappearance. The incident reflects broader concerns about academic freedom and safety in China, especially for foreign scholars.
Common question
More on these topics
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.