Takaichi emailed that China's sanctions on LDP's Furuya were 'very honorable', he says
In short
Keiji Furuya, an LDP lower house member who chairs the cross-party Japan-Taiwan friendship parliamentary league, said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent him an email calling China's sanctions against him "a very honorable sanction". China imposed an entry ban and an asset freeze on him in March. On October 9 Furuya called the email a politician's wit and said it would not affect Japan-China relations.
Read the full story 2 min read
Keiji Furuya, an LDP lower house member who chairs the cross-party Japan-Taiwan friendship parliamentary league, said on October 9 that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had sent him an email calling China's sanctions against him "a very honorable sanction". He spoke to reporters at Haneda Airport before the league's visit to Taiwan, which Kyodo, carried by Tokyo Shimbun, said was timed for Taiwan's Double Tenth national day. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 10 ]
Furuya had disclosed the email on October 7 in a speech at a ceremony at a Tokyo hotel celebrating Taiwan's National Day. Asahi Shimbun reported the remark on October 8 and wrote that it could invite further backlash from China, as Japan-China relations have cooled since Takaichi's Diet answer last November on a Taiwan contingency. [ 1 , 4 ]
At Haneda, Furuya said the email meant that being named and remembered by China, a major power, was itself an honor, and called it wit on the part of a politician. Nippon TV quoted him as confirming that the email was "a fact", and TBS quoted him asking reporters not to misunderstand. He said the matter would not affect Japan-China relations and that the strategic mutually beneficial relationship established under the Shinzo Abe government remains unchanged under the Takaichi government. Jiji quoted him as saying the email arrived in April. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
China's Foreign Ministry announced in March an entry ban and a freeze of Furuya's assets in China. It said he had colluded with "Taiwan independence" forces and interfered in China's internal affairs; Mainichi and Kyodo also cited his repeated visits to Taiwan. Furuya said he has no assets in China and no plans to visit, so the sanctions have no effect, and Mainichi quoted him as saying China acts according to its own thinking and that it cannot be helped. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]
The disclosure has drawn criticism. Yomiuri quoted a government source as saying the remarks did not seem to come from someone in a responsible position. Nippon TV reported that Ogawa, leader of Minshu Kaikaku no Kai (民主改革の会), said on October 9 that Furuya's judgment was in question for revealing the exchange while Japan-China relations are cool. A Livedoor News headline said criticism had been voiced of Takaichi over the email. [ 2 , 5 , 11 ]
Why it matters
Asahi Shimbun wrote that the remark could invite further backlash from China at a time when Japan-China relations have cooled since Takaichi's Diet answer last November on a Taiwan contingency. The disclosure has drawn criticism from a government source, according to Yomiuri, and from Ogawa, leader of Minshu Kaikaku no Kai (民主改革の会), according to Nippon TV.
Key facts
- Furuya said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent him an email calling China's sanctions on him "a very honorable sanction". [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]
- Furuya disclosed the email on October 7 at a ceremony in Tokyo celebrating Taiwan's National Day. [ 1 , 4 ]
- In March China imposed an entry ban and a freeze of his assets in China. [ 1 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]
- On October 9 at Haneda Airport, before the league's visit to Taiwan, Furuya said the email meant that being named and remembered by China, a major power, was itself an honor. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 10 ]
- Furuya called the email a politician's wit. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Furuya said the matter would not affect Japan-China relations. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Furuya said he has no assets in China and no plans to visit, so the sanctions have no effect on him. [ 1 , 5 , 10 ]
- Furuya chairs the Japan-Taiwan friendship parliamentary league and is a former LDP election strategy chief. [ 9 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Furuya said Takaichi emailed him that China's sanctions were "a very honorable sanction". [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- China sanctioned Furuya in March with measures including an entry ban and an asset freeze. [ 1 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]
- Furuya described the email as a politician's wit. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Furuya said the email meant that being named and remembered by China was an honor. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Furuya said the episode would not affect Japan-China relations. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Furuya spoke to reporters at Haneda Airport on October 9 before travelling to Taiwan with the league. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 10 ]
- China said Furuya had colluded with "Taiwan independence" forces. [ 1 , 6 , 10 ]
Still unclear
- When exactly the email was sent. Jiji quotes Furuya as saying the email arrived in April, while other outlets say it came when he was sanctioned in March or this spring.
- How Takaichi or the government officially responds. The documents carry no comment from Takaichi herself; Yomiuri cites only an unnamed government source.
- How China reacts to the disclosure. Asahi said the remark could invite further backlash, but no outlet reports a Chinese response.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asahi Shimbun reports Furuya's October 7 remarks about the email and says they could invite further Chinese backlash. [ 1 ]
- NHK reports Furuya confirming the email and calling it a politician's wit. [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri reports a government source questioning Furuya's handling. [ 5 ]
- Nippon TV reports criticism from Ogawa, leader of Minshu Kaikaku no Kai (民主改革の会). [ 11 ]