China places sanctions on former Japanese military chief

Japan's Shigeru Iwasaki is to face immediate sanctions for violation of the one-China principle, China's Foreign Ministry has announced.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement released on Monday, Iwasaki, formerly chief of the joint staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, has blatantly engaged with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, flagrantly violating the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents agreed between China and Japan.

Such a move seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement added.

As a result, in line with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, his movable and immovable properties and other assets within China have been frozen. In addition, organizations and individuals within the country are prohibited from conducting any transactions with Iwasaki or otherwise cooperating with him.

With immediate effect, Iwasaki has also been barred from entering any part of China, including the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.