Interior ministry decides to lift ban on controversial Japanese writer

The Ministry of the Interior (內政部) yesterday lifted the ban on Japanese cartoonist Yoshinori Kobayashi (小林善紀) and two other foreigners from entering Taiwan.

After conducting an overall review of the blacklist of 659 foreigners banned from entering the country, the ministry decided that if Kobayashi applies for a visa, he may enter Taiwan.

Chien Tai-lang (簡太郎), the interior ministry's administrative vice minister, said Kobayashi was taken off the blacklist because the reason for barring his entry no longer exists.

Likewise, the two other foreigners who were originally blacklisted under Article 17 of the Immigration Law (入出國及移民法) may also enter.

The ministry barred the controversial cartoonist from Tai-wan earlier this month, saying that statements made in his best-selling comic book On Taiwan (台灣論) have hurt Taiwan's international interests and posed a threat to public safety.

In the comic, Kobayashi claimed that Taiwanese women were not forced into sexual slavery during World War II but instead volunteered to work as "comfort women" (慰安婦) for Japanese soldiers.

He also interviewed and quoted some Taiwanese business and political leaders known to be sympathetic to Japan, such as former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and the presidential advisor Shi Wen-lung (許文龍).

The comic book enraged many people in Taiwan. Law-makers and women's groups have urged bookstores not to sell it, but it has become a best-seller.

After the interior ministry announced its ban on Kobayashi, it was criticized by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who stressed that as a democracy Taiwan should not block visitors.

Chen said that if Taiwan did so, it would be no different from China.