A Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki who was born in China was sanctioned by Beijing, vowing to tell the world that “Taiwan is an independent country”. He was sanctioned in September by China and restricted from entering the country for “spreading fallacies” on issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and disputed islands.
A Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki, who was born in China was penalised by Beijing on Tuesday, vowing to tell the world that “Taiwan is an independent country”.
Seki is a member of Japan’s Parliament, he was sanctioned in September by China and restricted from entering the country for “spreading fallacies” on issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and disputed islands.
China has always claimed that Taiwan is a part of its territory, which led to the recent rift between Sanae Takaichi and Xi Jinping. The East Asia Sea is claimed by both countries, and considers foreign criticism on sensitive political topics to be acts of interference.
“The fact that I am able today to smoothly enter Taiwan… fully demonstrates that the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China are completely two different countries,” Seki told AFP, using Taiwan’s official name.
“I came to Taiwan today, first of all, to prove this point, and to tell the world that Taiwan is an independent country,” he said.
China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told AFP at a press briefing the “rantings of petty villains aren’t worth responding to.”
Seki will attend a banquet on Tuesday, along with Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai, the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank in Taipei, which is hosting Seki’s visit, said.
China has said it would freeze Seki’s assets in the country, forbid Chinese entities from conducting transactions with him, and deny entry visas to him or his family.
Japanese officials said at the time that Seki was the first Japanese lawmaker to be sanctioned by the Chinese government and that Tokyo had lodged a protest with China to demand it withdraw the measures.
While Japan and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, Japanese lawmakers often visit the democratic island.
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