Japanese lawmaker close to Takaichi sanctioned by China for Taiwan ties
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- China has imposed sanctions on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, accusing him of colluding with Taiwan separatists, marking heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan.
- The sanctions ban Furuya from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macao, and prohibit his activities with Chinese organizations, citing violations of the one-China principle.
- Japan condemned the sanctions as unacceptable and demanded their immediate retraction, with officials criticizing China's actions as intimidation against differing views.
- Furuya, a close ally of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and head of a Japan-Taiwan parliamentary council, has regularly visited Taiwan and met its president, actions China views as interference in its internal affairs.
- The move follows increased friction after Takaichi suggested Japan might militarily respond if China attacked Taiwan, breaking Japan's traditionally ambiguous stance on the issue.
