- China has imposed sanctions on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, accusing him of "collusion with Taiwan independence" forces and violating the "One-China" principle.
- The measures include freezing any assets Mr Furuya holds within China, banning Chinese individuals and organisations from engaging with him, and denying him entry to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
- Mr Furuya, who heads a cross-party Japan-Taiwan lawmakers’ group, has made numerous visits to Taiwan, most recently meeting President Lai Ching-te in Taipei.
- In response, Mr Furuya said that visiting Taiwan is a natural function of his parliamentary group and noted he has not visited mainland China in decades nor holds assets there.
- This action escalates diplomatic tensions between Japan and China over Taiwan and marks the second time a Japanese lawmaker has been sanctioned by Beijing in recent months.
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