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Lee snaps at China on his way to Japan

Lee Teng-hui bows to the media upon arrival in Osaka yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) arrived in Japan yesterday for medical treatment in good spirits, denying China's allegations that his visit was an act of separatism.

"That's nonsense, you can ask anyone, I have never said anything about independence. China has nothing else to say, it's simply nonsense," Lee said speaking in Taiwanese to a group of reporters on the plane to Osaka.

"I am only here to cure my heart," Lee said. The doctor "knows how to handle my heart when it's clogged," he said.

When asked whether he would go sightseeing or make any additional trips while in Japan, Lee said, "I don't know if I will have any time."

Asked whether he was upset about limitations that had been put on his trip, Lee said, "I've seen enough of society and politics so there's nothing to be unhappy about. I am just going to have medical treatment, so when I make a trip to the US my heart will be at ease," he said.

Lee was smiling when he arrived at Kansai airport, where a small group of some 40 individuals welcomed him.

"Everyone thank you very much, thank you very much," Lee said, speaking in Japanese.

After arriving at the Imperial Hotel in Osaka, Lee briefly greeted the hundreds who crowded the lobby to welcome him. After his arrival, some 500 supporters, both Taiwanese and Japanese, crowded into the hotel lobby after being unable to greet Lee in the airport. Some shouted: "long live, Taiwan" and others "long live, Japan."

"[Lee] was moved nearly to tears" when he learned of these supporters, having failed to see him at the airport came to wait for him in the hotel, said Peng Run-tzu (彭榮次), president of the Taiwan Transportation Machinery Corp. "So he donned his tie once again and came downstairs to greet them."

Peng helped Lee obtain his visa for this trip, his first to Japan since 1985, when he made a transit stopover on his way back to Taiwan following a visit to South America.

Lee is scheduled to take a walk this morning, Peng said, adding that a small-scale welcome party will be held for him this evening.

Tomorrow, Lee will go to the Kurashiki Central Hospital to see heart surgeon Mitsudo Kazuaki for a follow-up to surgery he underwent last November in Taipei. Kazuaki was part of the medical team for his November operation.

The hospital is scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon, open only to Japanese media.

Japan issued Lee a visa after agonizing for days and the final decision came only after a late-night Friday meeting between outgoing Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and his foreign minister, Yohei Kono, who opposed the visa fearing possible damage to Japan's ties with China.

Peng denied reports that Japan had required Lee to sign a written agreement regarding his activities in Japan.

"How can that be possible? Japan has paid attention to Mr Lee's feelings," Peng said.

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