Beijing has sanctioned a conservative, opposition Japanese lawmaker, saying that he spread falsehoods on issues involving Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, undermining Chinese sovereignty.
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In a rare move, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions on Monday morning against Seki Hei – known in China as Shi Ping – a 63-year-old China-born political commentator who was elected to the House of Councillors this year on the Japan Innovation Party’s ticket.
According to the ministry’s statement, Seki has “long spread fallacies on issues including Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands, history, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong”.
He had also “seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs and severely undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, it said.
The Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan, are claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.
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From Monday, any assets held by Seki within Chinese territory will be frozen and all organisations or individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in transactions or working with him, state news agency Xinhua said.
Visas would not be issued to Seki or his immediate family members, including for entry to Hong Kong and Macau, it added.
