Beijing has imposed sanctions on Shigeru Iwasaki, former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defence Forces, saying he had “colluded with separatist forces” in Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.
It comes after Beijing lodged a protest with Tokyo in March over the appointment of Iwasaki, a retired four-star air force general, as an honorary adviser to the Executive Yuan, the Taiwanese government’s highest administrative body.
As Japan’s chief of the Joint Staff from 2012 to 2014, Iwasaki was the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the country and third in the military command chain after the prime minister and defence minister.
The “countermeasures” include freezing Iwasaki’s movable and immovable assets and other types of property within China, the foreign ministry statement said.
It said organisations and individuals in China were also barred from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with Iwasaki.
In addition, Iwasaki has been prohibited from obtaining a visa or entry into mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
“Shigeru Iwasaki openly colluded with the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, seriously violating the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs, and seriously damaging China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” read the statement.
It said the sanctions would take effect from Monday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing had lodged multiple protests over Iwasaki’s appointment, noting that the Taiwan question was a core interest and represented a red line that must not be crossed.
“Far from reflecting on his mistakes, Iwasaki has intensified his actions,” Guo added.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including Japan and the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. But they oppose any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and the US is committed to supply arms to Taiwan.
“It is regrettable that the Chinese side has taken unilateral measures against the Japanese people that appear to intimidate those holding differing positions and views,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference on Monday.
Kihara said Japan had consistently engaged in various exchanges with China, repeatedly explaining its own perspectives and positions.
The sanctions on Iwasaki were announced as tensions are soaring between Beijing and Tokyo over remarks made by Japan’s new prime minister.
Sanae Takaichi said in parliament on November 7 that if the People’s Liberation Army attacked Taiwan it could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan – suggesting Japanese troops could be deployed to intervene.
The comments infuriated Beijing and it has repeatedly called for Takaichi to retract them and reaffirm Japan’s position on Taiwan as set out in a 1972 document signed when Tokyo switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
Takaichi has softened her tone in recent weeks but has not retracted the remarks.
The measures against Iwasaki also come three months after Beijing sanctioned Seki Hei – also known by his Chinese name Shi Ping – a 63-year-old, China-born conservative opposition lawmaker in Japan.
In September, the Chinese foreign ministry claimed that Seki had “long spread fallacies on issues including Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands, history, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong” and that he had openly visited the Yasukuni Shrine – a controversial memorial that honours some of the most notorious Japanese war criminals.
On Monday, Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily again slammed Takaichi for “launching a serious provocation” on Taiwan, describing it as a challenge to the post-World War II international order and a “wake-up call” for the global community.
It came a day after China held the annual commemoration for victims of the Nanking massacre carried out by the Japanese army over a period of six weeks in 1937, in the city now known as Nanjing. China’s official estimate puts the death toll at more than 300,000 civilians and Chinese soldiers.
“Japan has never truly reflected on its historical crimes, and right-wing forces have never ceased attempting to rewrite history. Today, there is even a risk of militarism rising from the ashes,” said the People’s Daily commentary written under the pseudonym Zhong Sheng – meaning “Voice of China” – which is often used to convey Beijing’s position on international affairs.
More than a week ago, there was a tense confrontation between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets as frictions between the two neighbours spilled over from diplomacy to security.
On Thursday, Hiroaki Uchikura, the current chief of the Joint Staff of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces, accused a Chinese military aircraft of directing its radar at Japanese F-15 jets intermittently for about 30 minutes, describing the move as “a dangerous act that went beyond what was necessary”.
Beijing said the incident occurred because the Japanese fighter jets had intruded into China’s exercise and training area, conducted close-in reconnaissance and interfered with Chinese military activities.
Uchikura on Wednesday held a virtual conference with US Forces Japan and its commander Stephen Jost, with the Japanese defence ministry saying afterwards that Jost had “expressed support for Japan and stated that the US-Japan alliance is stronger than ever and will grow even closer”.
As it comes under mounting pressure from China, Japan is stepping up efforts to secure stronger support from the US.
Takaichi on Friday reposted a message on social media from George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, in which he described her as a “strong, capable, and rock-solid friend and ally of the United States”.
“Grateful for Glass’s warm congratulatory message. Japan and the United States, building on a strong foundation of friendship, form the world’s most powerful Alliance!” Takaichi wrote.
It followed a phone call between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth the same day, when they discussed “China’s military activities”.
But US President Donald Trump appears to be keeping his distance as Washington tries to stabilise ties with Beijing. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said Trump maintained good relations with both his Japanese and Chinese counterparts. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
