China launches countermeasures against former Japan defense official

BEIJING — China announced countermeasures on Monday against a former chief of staff of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, as tensions between the neighboring countries continue to simmer following remarks about Taiwan by Japan’s prime minister that angered Beijing.

The measures were imposed against Shigeru Iwasaki on the grounds that he violated the one-China principle and undermined the spirit of political consensus between China and Japan, according to China’s foreign ministry. The ministry said Iwasaki had “seriously interfered” in China’s internal affairs.

The countermeasures include visa restrictions, the freezing of Iwasaki’s assets, and a ban on any transactions or cooperation with him, the ministry said.

-Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue/Reuters