High-ranking officials were elated yesterday that Japan had granted former president Lee Teng-hui (
Meanwhile analysts said it was unlikely that Beijing would retaliate significantly against Tokyo given China's recent standoff with the US.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) welcomed Japan's move, saying he was "very pleased" that Japan took into consideration Lee's medical condition and allowed him to seek medical treatment in Japan.
"A democratic country cannot refuse a request on humanitarian grounds," Chang told reporters.
When asked to comment on reports that Beijing had threatened to recall its ambassador to Tokyo, Chen Jian (
According to a press release issued by the Presidential Office, President Chen Shui-bian (
After 10 days of foot dragging, Japan issued Lee a visa late Friday evening despite strong warnings from Beijing. Lee however, was issued the visa on condition that he refrain from any political activity during his five-day visit, which starts today.
The 78-year-old Lee is scheduled to receive a follow-up examination for his heart problems by Japanese doctor Mitsudo Kazuaki on Tuesday.
The US also decided to issue a tourist visa to Lee on Friday, which would facilitate Lee's trip to America from April 30. Lee is scheduled to visit his alma mater Cornell University on May 2, where his granddaughter Huang Yi-ning(黃怡寧) now studies.
On May 3, Lee is to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lee Teng-hui Institute for Scientific Research, which was partly funded by a US$1 million donation by the Taiwan Research Institute, a think tank founded by Lee.
Today Departs for Osaka, Japan, for a five-day visit.
Tuesday Heads for Kurashiki City to receive a follow-up examination by Mitsudo Kazuaki for his heart problems.
Thursday Leaves Japan for Taiwan.
April 30 Departs for the US.
May 2 Visit his alma mater Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where his granddaughter Lee Kun-yi studies.
May 3 Attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lee Teng-hui institute for Scientific Research at Cornell University.
The date for his return to Taiwan has not been finalized.
GRAPHIC: TT
"It's a day full of miracles with [Lee] obtaining visas to the US and Japan at the same day," local media quoted Peng Run-tzu (彭榮次), president of the Taiwan Transportation Machinery Corp, as saying.
Peng helped Lee apply for his visa to Japan on April 10 and acted as Lee's representative in negotiations with Japanese representatives during the days leading up to the issuance of the visa.
Peng also criticized Beijing's intervention with Lee's proposed trip to Japan.
"I think the Chinese communists are a bunch of clumsy people. If China would have said it would not oppose Lee's trip because it's a case involving his life which should be treated with the utmost care (人命關天), then others would look at China in a quite a different light," Peng told the Taipei Times on Wednesday.
"But Beijing's opposition to the visa in the end simply backfired. Even US officials considered Beijing's reaction to be inexplicable. Nobody thinks Beijing has done the right thing," he said.
Public opinion in Japan during the past week has also been opposed to Beijing's interference with Tokyo's decision-making process, with some people urging the government to set diplomacy free from outside pressures.
Tokyo's decision came amid rising tensions between China and the US following the collision of a US surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter jet on April 1.
Despite Beijing's protests against Tokyo's decision to issue Lee a visa, it is unlikely that Beijing would retaliate, given China's recent standoff with the US, analysts said.
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