Beijing Confirms 2022 Conviction of UK Businessman on Espionage Charges

The convicted man’s daughter said the family haven’t seen any legal documents and there has been no confession to the alleged crimes.

British and Chinese flags are seen on display in front of the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, on Jan. 17, 2008. Andy Wong /AP Photo

BEIJING—Beijing confirmed Friday that a longtime British businessman in China was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 on an espionage charge.

Ian J. Stones was convicted of being bought off to provide intelligence to “external forces,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said when asked about the case at a daily briefing. He did not provide any specific details about the charges.