China sanctions aide of Japan PM Takaichi for Taiwan ties

China imposed sanctions on Monday on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, a close aide of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, due to his "collusion with Taiwan independence" forces, in its latest move in a diplomatic row over Taiwan.



Beijing will bar Furuya's entry into China and freeze his property and other assets in the country effective immediately, China's foreign ministry said.



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 Furuya of colluding with "separatist forces" in Taiwan, as he made trips to the island "in defiance of China’s strong opposition".



The ministry said Furuya's actions "constitute gross interference in China’s internal affairs, and seriously undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity".