BEIJING/TOKYO 鈥 China imposed sanctions on Monday on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, a close aide to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for what it called his 鈥渃ollusion with Taiwan independence鈥 forces, in its latest move in a diplomatic row over Taiwan.
Japan said Beijing鈥檚 action on Mr. Furuya was 鈥渁bsolutely unacceptable鈥, and called for its swift retraction.
Mr. Furuya, as the head of a cross-party Japan-Taiwan lawmakers group, has visited Taiwan many times accompanying Japanese political leaders, most recently earlier this month to meet its President Lai Ching-te in Taipei.
The Chinese ministry accused Mr. Furuya of colluding with 鈥渟eparatist forces鈥 in Taiwan, as he made trips to the island 鈥渋n defiance of China鈥檚 strong opposition鈥.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, objects to official visits by foreign politicians to the island as they are seen to be undermining the 鈥淥ne China鈥 principle and Beijing鈥檚 claim over the island.
Taiwan鈥檚 government rejects Beijing鈥檚 sovereignty claims.
The Chinese ministry said Mr. Furuya鈥檚 actions 鈥渃onstitute gross interference in China鈥檚 internal affairs, and seriously undermine China鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity鈥.
In response, Japan鈥檚 deputy chief cabinet secretary Masanao Ozaki said China鈥檚 鈥渦nilateral action, using (Furuya鈥檚) conduct as a pretext to intimidate those with differing views, is absolutely unacceptable鈥.
Mr. Furuya, a member of the lower house of parliament, told reporters that Beijing鈥檚 move would have no impact, as聽he had not visited mainland China in decades and had no assets there.
鈥淥ur parliamentary group is simply doing what comes naturally, to foster exchanges between countries that share common values,鈥 Mr. Furuya said.
Mr. Furuya has been close to Ms. Takaichi, supporting her election as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader last year.
China imposed the sanctions in response to Mr. Furuya鈥檚 鈥渁bominable acts鈥, said Mao Ning, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, at a regular news conference on Monday.
鈥淭he Taiwan issue is the core of China鈥檚 core interests, and is a red line that must absolutely not be crossed,鈥 Ms. Mao said.
Ties between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated since Ms. Takaichi suggested last November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.
Last year, Beijing also sanctioned China-born Japanese lawmaker Seki Hei and former Japanese military chief of staff Shigeru Iwasaki for their remarks on issues including Taiwan. 鈥斅Reuters
