Beijing: Beijing on Monday lodged a protest with Tokyo after a senior Japanese lawmaker visited Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news conference that Beijing "firmly opposes the visit and has protested to the Japanese side," stressing that Taiwan is "a province of China."

According to Anadolu Agency, Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te hosted Japanese lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday. The two sides exchanged views on economic and cultural areas, according to a statement by Hagiuda on US social media company X.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that there is "one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," urging the Japanese side to "reflect on and correct its wrongdoings, retract Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks, and not to interfere in China's internal affairs." Lin further criticized Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stating, "The DPP authorities will not succeed in seeking 'Taiwan independence' by ingratiating themselves with Japan. Their disgraceful acts will only lead to a dead end."

Tensions between China and Japan have escalated since November 7, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remarked that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a "survival-threatening situation," potentially allowing Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense. These remarks triggered a significant backlash from Beijing, with China advising against travel to Japan and re-imposing a ban on imports of seafood, among other restrictive measures.