Taiwan is Taiwan, not part of China: China-born Japanese lawmaker

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Visiting China-born Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki said upon his arrival on Tuesday that his trip to Taiwan proves that "Taiwan is not part of China, Taiwan is Taiwan," and that the two countries are not subordinate to each other.

Greeted at Taipei Songshan Airport by a group of pro-independent supporters and a small group of pro-unification protesters, Seki told gathered reporters that he was "thrilled" to visit Taiwan.

"The People's Republic of China (PRC) has sanctioned me and forbidden me from entering PRC territory. Today I successfully entered Taiwan's territory to clearly demonstrate that the PRC and the Republic of China (ROC) are two different countries," he said.

"Taiwan is Taiwan, Taiwan is the ROC, and has no relations with the PRC," he said, adding that his trip proved that Taiwan is an independent country.

The Japanese politician, a member of the Japan Innovation Party, has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025.

Born in China, Seki graduated from Peking University before moving to Japan to study there in 1988, one year before the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.

He naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2007 and later became a university lecturer and political commentator before moving to politics.

In September 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions targeting Seki for his China-critical stance, his support of Taiwan, and his visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japan's war dead, including World War II war criminals.

The sanctions included banning him from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

Seki was invited to Taiwan by the Taipei-based Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank and will attend a seminar on Friday.