China sanctions ex-Japan SDF chief Iwasaki who serves as Taiwan adviser

BEIJING — China said Monday it has imposed sanctions on Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who serves as a political consultant for Taiwan's cabinet, amid tensions with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on the island.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, the sanctions, which took effect Monday, include denying Iwasaki a visa to enter China, Hong Kong and Macao, freezing his properties in mainland China and banning him from engaging in transactions and cooperation between mainland organizations and individuals.

The Chinese ministry claimed Iwasaki "openly colluded" with independence supporters of Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy claimed by Beijing, and "seriously interfered" in China's internal affairs, gravely undermining the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Later in the day, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concern" over the sanctions against Iwasaki, saying his government "lawfully appoints" international advisers with professional expertise, which is a "normal and legitimate" exercise of sovereignty and a common form of international exchange and cooperation.

The ministry said mainland China has "no jurisdiction" over the participation of Taiwanese people or citizens of other countries in activities on the island and urged Beijing to refrain from politicizing normal international exchanges, adding such actions could undermine mutual trust and exchanges among all parties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference that Beijing "firmly opposes" Iwasaki serving as "the so-called political adviser" to the Taiwan authorities.

Reiterating China's claim that the Taiwan issue is its "red line that must not be crossed," Guo said countermeasures were taken in response to his "egregious move" to punish him for his "collusion and provocations" with pro-independence forces in Taiwan.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara expressed regret over China's "unilateral measures that appear to intimidate members of the Japanese public for holding differing views and positions."

Beijing has ramped up pressure on Tokyo since Takaichi said in parliament on Nov. 7 that a Taiwan emergency could be a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan that may lead to action from the country's defense forces in support of the United States.

Mainland China and Taiwan have been governed separately since their split in 1949 due to a civil war, with Beijing aiming to bring the island under its fold, by force if necessary.

Iwasaki was appointed to the adviser post in March. During his one-year term, he is responsible for making policy recommendations to the Executive Yuan.

In June, Iwasaki took part in a two-day tabletop war game in Taipei simulating a 2030 armed attack on Taiwan by mainland China, with retired military officers from Japan and the United States also joining.

After serving as the top officer of the Air Self-Defense Force, Iwasaki worked as the SDF's chief of the Joint Staff between 2012 and 2014.

In September, China imposed sanctions on Hei Seki, a House of Councillors member of the Japan Innovation Party, over his China stance, claiming he has long "spread fallacies" on issues such as Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong.

At that time, Tokyo lodged a protest over the sanctions and demanded Beijing promptly retract them.

Seki, a China-born former visiting professor at Takushoku University, obtained Japanese citizenship and won a seat in the upper house in July. The Japan Innovation Party now serves as a junior coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party headed by Takaichi.

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