China Arrests Japanese Executive Despite Tokyo’s Appeals

TOKYO—China formally arrested a Japanese pharmaceutical executive who had been detained since March, Tokyo said Thursday, in a move likely to further chill business travel to the nation.

Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, said the Astellas Pharma executive, whom China has previously identified as Hiroshi Nishiyama, was arrested in mid-October. Matsuno said Tokyo had made strong appeals to Beijing for the early release of the executive and would continue doing so.