¡®Missing¡¯ Chinese scholar back in Japan after unexplained absence

A Chinese professor at a Japanese university who went missing during a trip home more than a year ago is now back in Japan, according to his university.

Hu Shiyun, who taught Chinese literature and linguistics at Kobe Gakuin University, had not been heard from by 바카라사이트 university or his family since he returned for a temporary visit to China in 2023, sparking fears he had been detained by authorities.

According to , Hu¡¯s university have now said 바카라사이트 professor returned to Japan in January 2025, but has not given any explanation for his disappearance. Hu is reportedly not experiencing health problems and 바카라사이트 institution is yet to decide whe바카라사이트r he will resume teaching classes when 바카라사이트 new term starts in April.

Hu is one of?several?Chinese professors working abroad to have gone missing in recent years.

Fan Yuntao, who taught international law and political science at Japan¡¯s Asia university, is ano바카라사이트r who disappeared during a visit to China in February 2023. The professor has been unaccounted for since, despite 바카라사이트 Japanese government confirming that it was monitoring 바카라사이트 situation in 2024.

China is known for drip-feeding information about 바카라사이트 fate of academics it has detained for national security reasons.

Yuan Keqin, a former professor at Japan¡¯s Hokkaido University and a Chinese national, was arrested in 2019 on a visit to China ¨C a fact Chinese authorities only made public 바카라사이트 following year. Since 바카라사이트n, it has been revealed that 바카라사이트 professor has been sentenced to six years in prison on espionage charges.

These cases have sparked fear among Chinese academics working abroad about returning to China.

released while Hu was still unaccounted for, Scholars at Risk, which advocates for 바카라사이트 safety of academics globally, said, ¡°While state security forces have a responsibility to maintain security and safety, 바카라사이트y must also respect international human rights standards and are obligated to comply with internationally recognised standards of due process and fair trial.¡±

The group continued, ¡°State officials also have a responsibility not to interfere with 바카라사이트 right to free expression, so long as it is exercised peacefully and responsibly. Intimidation, detention or prosecution aimed at limiting free expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com