Overview
- China’s foreign ministry, which announced the move Monday, barred Furuya from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau effective immediately.
- The ministry said it will freeze any property or assets he holds in China and accused him of colluding with Taiwan independence forces.
- Furuya leads a cross-party Japan–Taiwan lawmakers group and met Taiwan President Lai Ching-te in Taipei earlier this month, which Beijing called interference in its internal affairs.
- Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Furuya said visits to Taiwan are part of his job and that he has not visited mainland China in decades or kept assets there.
- Ties have worsened since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi floated military involvement over Taiwan in November, and China has since discouraged travel to Japan, applied economic pressure, and sanctioned another lawmaker, Seki Hei.