Chinese authorities have detained董光明(Dong Guangming), a man sought by Japanese law enforcement for vandalism at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, on separate charges of extortion in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. The Chinese police action comes after董光明was named as a suspect in the defacement of the shrine’s stone columns with the English word Toilet in June.
The Hangzhou police announced on August 27 that they had taken董光明into custody for suspected extortion, unrelated to the vandalism case in Japan. According to the police report,董光明is accused of being involved in an extortion scheme targeting a popular online influencer in May. He is now under criminal detention, and the investigation is ongoing.
Japanese authorities had previously issued an arrest warrant for董光明and another Chinese national for alleged damage to property and desecration of a place of worship at the Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial site honoring Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals. The shrine has been a source of tension between Japan and its neighbors due to its association with Japan’s militaristic past.
The incident, in which the word Toilet was spray-painted on the shrine’s columns, sparked outrage in Japan and led to the issuance of the international warrant. However,董光明had returned to China before the warrant was served. The Chinese police statement did not mention the Yasukuni Shrine case, focusing solely on the extortion allegations.
Chinese media outlets have covered董光明’s detention, shedding light on his previous activities as a网红主播(web influencer) who had posted videos on Chinese social media platforms. Reports indicate that董光明’s social media accounts were查封(seized) earlier this year after authorities received complaints about违规内容(illegal or inappropriate content) in his videos.
The parallel investigations in China and Japan highlight the complexities of cross-border law enforcement cooperation, especially when it comes to individuals who are wanted in multiple countries. While董光明’s detention in China may complicate the Japanese efforts to bring him to justice for the Yasukuni Shrine vandalism, it also underscores the Chinese authorities’ commitment to addressing criminal activities within their jurisdiction.
As the two countries navigate their respective legal processes,董光明’s case will be watched closely by international observers, given its potential diplomatic implications and the sensitive nature of the Yasukuni Shrine. It remains to be seen how the two nations will coordinate in handling the case and whether董光明will face trial in China or eventually be extradited to Japan to face charges there.
In the meantime,董光明’s detention serves as a reminder of the potential consequences for individuals involved in transnational criminal activities, especially when their actions touch upon issues that carry historical and political sensitivities. The unfolding situation will likely test the limits of legal cooperation and diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
【source】https://nwapi.nhk.jp/nhkworld/rdnewsweb/v6b/zh/detail/k10014561761000.json
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