China Sanctions Japanese Lawmaker Shi Ping, Freezing Assets and Denying Visas Over “Anti‑China” Activities

According to the ministry’s statement, Shi Ping has repeatedly disseminated “false information” and launched attacks on China over a range of sensitive topics, including Taiwan, the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands, historical issues, as well as policies in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The statement added that after being elected to the Japanese Diet, Shi publicly visited the Yasukuni Shrine – a site that honors Japan’s war dead, including convicted Class‑A war criminals – which Beijing said “seriously violated the spirit of the political documents between the two countries and the One‑China principle” and amounted to “interference in China’s internal affairs” and a “damage to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The countermeasures announced by the Foreign Ministry are threefold. First, any movable or immovable property Shi holds within China, together with any other assets, will be frozen. Second, Chinese organisations and individuals are barred from entering into any transactions, cooperation or other forms of engagement with Shi or his immediate family. Third, visas for Shi and his close relatives – including those for Hong Kong and Macau – will not be issued, effectively denying them entry to mainland China.

Lin Jian framed the measures as a direct response to what he termed Shi’s “personal profiteering, betrayal of his roots and collusion with anti‑China forces.” The spokesperson warned that “selling one’s ancestors for fame only leads to self‑destruction,” echoing a broader narrative that casts Shi’s actions as a betrayal of his former national identity.

Shi Ping, who was born in China and later naturalised as a Japanese citizen, has been a vocal critic of Beijing’s policies for several years. While the ministry’s release did not provide a detailed chronology of his alleged infractions, it cited a “long‑standing behaviour” that has repeatedly crossed what China deems the line of acceptable political discourse. The sanctions are to take effect immediately, and the ministry said they will be enforced without exception.

The move marks one of the most direct legal actions taken by Beijing against a foreign lawmaker to date. It is likely to heighten already tense diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Beijing, especially as Japan continues to grapple with domestic debates over the country’s wartime legacy and its strategic posture toward China. Observers note that the decision could also serve as a warning to other politicians, both within Japan and abroad, who question or challenge Beijing’s core interests.