According to Lo, the Japanese ministry issued two different explanations of Taiwan's referendum plan to its parliament and Japanese reporters based in Taipei.
The Japanese foreign ministry then issued a third version explaining its stance on the referendum while communicating with the Presidential Office over the issue, Lo said.
In presenting the version to the Japanese Diet, the ministry stated it had told Beijing that it hoped the "Taiwan problem" can be solved through peaceful means and that it opposes the use of force against Taiwan, Lo said.
However, in explaining its stance on the referendum to the Presidential Office, the ministry deliberately omitted its opposition to China's use of force against Taiwan.
Lo described the omission as an "incorrect and dishonest" act.
Shih said Lo had revealed the Japanese ministry's improper handling of the referendum issue in order to urge the Japanese government to adopt a neutral attitude toward the issue.
"Lo did not mean to criticize the Japanese government," Shih said.
Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling(STAFF REPORTER)
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