Beijing sanctions Japanese lawmaker for ‘colluding with Taiwan independence forces’

Japanese politician Keiji Furuya is the subject of sanctions by Beijing, China’s foreign ministry announced on Monday.

Photo: Kyodo Beijing has imposed sanctions on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya for allegedly “colluding with the Taiwan independence forces”. “Japanese House of Representatives member Keiji Furuya, despite strong opposition from China, has repeatedly made provocative visits to Taiwan and colluded with ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, seriously violating the one-China principle,” China’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Monday.

During his visit to Taipei on March 17, Furuya, a lawmaker with Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, met Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te.

According to Taiwan Today, an online publication owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei, Furuya called for expanded cooperation in next-generation sectors such as green energy, energy security and supply chain enhancement.

Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported that Furuya had also proposed to establish “trilateral military band exchange” between Japan, the United States and Taiwan.

Under the Law on Countering Foreign Sanctions, Beijing will freeze all Furuya’s properties and other types of assets within China.

Organisations and individuals within China would be prohibited from engaging in any transactions, cooperation or other activities with him, while he will be denied entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the statement said.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

More to follow …

原文链接: 南华早报