China has announced countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, member of Japan's House of Representatives, for his egregious moves including collusion with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces for provocative moves, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on March 30

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a related query, adding that China has lodged stern representation with Japan over Furuya's tout visits to Taiwan.

Mao noted that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, which is a red line that must not be crossed.

Despite repeated statements of China's position regarding Japanese leaders' erroneous remarks on Taiwan, Furuya failed to walk back or cease what he had been doing and continued to collude with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to stir up trouble, said Mao. These moves seriously interfere in China's internal affairs and violate China's sovereignty and core interests, she added.

In response to Furuya's egregious moves and pursuant to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China has announced punitive countermeasures against Furuya as a means of deterrence and warning, said Mao.

China will also take other necessary punitive measures in light of the situation, Mao added