China is investigating a detained Czech citizen on suspicion of endangering state security, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that authorities are handling the case in accordance with the law.
The detained Czech is a businessman linked to defence industry owner Michal Strnad who represented the company Eldis in China, according to Czech media. Czech diplomacy suspects Beijing may seek to exchange him for a Chinese national detained in Prague earlier this year on suspicion of working for Chinese intelligence.
Beijing has meanwhile accused Prague of holding a Chinese journalist on baseless charges and demanded his immediate release. The diplomatic friction comes as Czech lower house speaker Tomio Okamura, who recently met with Strnad, prepares to travel to China this week on an official visit.