Tokyo open to idea of visit by Lee Teng-hui
Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso says his country might allow Lee's visit, but no decision has not been reached yet. Former President Lee was invited by "private groups".
Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Tokyo should allow former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui to visit Japan, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said yesterday, but added the government had not reached any formal decision.
A Japanese newspaper reported last week that Mr Lee planned to travel to Japan in May, prompting Beijing to warn that a visit by the ex-Taiwanese leader could further raise Sino-Japanese tensions. "Lee Teng-hui, who has retired, isn't such an important person now, although some people think he is," Mr Aso said. "I personally think that the most proper response would be: retired old man visits Japan, period".
Aso, one of the leading candidates to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has said he will step down in September added that "there hasn't been a formal application." Mr Aso also said it was unproductive for Japan and China to keep repeating their respective positions on Mr Koizumi's annual visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine. "If both sides keep stating their positions, talks could go on endlessly," Mr Aso said.
Mr Aso repeated a call on Beijing to increase transparency in its military spending. He had raised hackles last month when he said China's military build-up was a threat given its lack of transparency, a remark that got an angry retort from Beijing.
The daily Yomiuri newspaper reported last week that the former Taiwanese president, who studied in Japan during the second world war and speaks fluent Japanese, might visit for two or three weeks from May 10 at the invitation of private groups. The Yomiuri said Japan would decide whether to issue Mr Lee a tourist visa after confirming whether he would refrain from political activities. A visit by Mr Lee to Japan from late December 2004 to early January 2005 sparked furious protests from Beijing, which accused Tokyo of encouraging independence for Taiwan.
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31/07/2020 10:59
