A Japanese lawmaker sanctioned by China has visited Taiwan, declaring it an independent country and criticising Beijing’s stance.
TAIPEI: A Japanese lawmaker sanctioned by Beijing arrived in Taipei on Tuesday, vowing to tell the world that “Taiwan is an independent country”.
Hei Seki, a member of Japan’s parliament, was sanctioned by China in September for “spreading fallacies” on issues including Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and views foreign criticism on such topics as 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 reporters.
“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 dismissed his comments as “rantings of petty villains”.
Seki will attend a banquet with Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai, according to the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank hosting his visit.
China’s foreign ministry previously accused Seki of spreading false information and colluding with anti-China forces.
The ministry also cited his visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead including WWII war criminals.
China has said it would freeze Seki’s assets in the country and deny entry visas to him or his family.
Japanese officials said Seki was the first Japanese lawmaker sanctioned by China and that Tokyo had lodged a protest.
While Japan and Taiwan lack formal diplomatic ties, Japanese lawmakers often visit the democratic island.
