India, March 31 -- China announced on Monday that it is sanctioning a conservative Japanese lawmaker close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, accusing him of "colluding with" separatists in Taiwan, the latest incident that underlines growing tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over the self-governed island.

China's Foreign Ministry said the sanctions include banning the entry of Keiji Furuya to China, including to Hong Kong and Macao, and prohibiting his activities with organisations and individuals in China, effective immediately.

Furuya heads a bipartisan Japan-Taiwan lawmakers' consultation council and has visited Taiwan regularly. He most recently visited Taiwan's capital of Taipei, where he held talks with Taiwanese President Lai Chi...