China Sanctions Ex-Japan SDF Chief over Taiwan Links

Beijing, Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)–The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday announced sanctions against Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Japanese Self Defense Force’s Joint Staff who currently serves as a political adviser to the executive branch of Taiwan’s government. The sanctions, which took effect the same day, are based on China’s antiforeign sanctions law. The ministry claimed that Iwasaki has openly colluded with Taiwan independence forces and caused serious damage to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iwasaki is banned from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and from engaging in interactions and transactions with individuals and groups in China. His assets in China have also been frozen. The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping has strongly criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks regarding a possible Taiwan contingency, urging its citizens not to visit Japan. The latest sanctions may be part of such retaliatory actions. After serving as the Japan Air SDF’s chief of staff, Iwasaki assumed the position of chief of the SDF Joint Staff in 2012. Until stepping down in 2014, he worked on addressing heightened tensions between Japan and China in the wake of Japan’s nationalization of the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa, which are claimed by China. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]