Government officials and politicians came out in support yesterday of former president Lee Teng-hui's (
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that Japan's refusal to grant a visa could seriously harm relations between the two countries. The two nations have strong economic ties but lack an official diplomatic relationship.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao
China vehemently opposes travel by any of Taiwan's leaders to any foreign country because it sees such trips as a threat to its claim of sovereignty over Taiwan. Beijing is pressuring Tokyo not to allow Lee to visit.
"There are no laws in Japan that bar Lee from making that trip. Therefore, Japan should base [it's decision] on humanitarian concerns and allow the trip in conformity with the norms of a civilized country," Tien said.
"Otherwise, it will have a negative impact on ties between Japan and Taiwan," he said.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was more critical, saying that "if the Japanese government again succumbs [to pressure from China], it will still be a wealthy country, but a cruel one (為富不仁)."
"For the past decade, Japan has not fulfilled its obligations to international society in accordance with social justice. The shame is on the Japanese government and all Japanese. This time, it takes courage and morality for Japan to make that final decision," Lu said yesterday.
Lu went on to lash out at young people who are enamored with Japanese culture, calling it "a disgrace to the nation" (
Though Lee's wish to visit Japan has been highly politicized, government officials -- including the president and the premier -- yesterday continued to downplay the issue, but did provide assistance to Lee through formal diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, some KMT and DPP legislators joined forces to petition the Japan Interchange Association in Taipei with a written statement, urging Japan to allow Lee's medical trip on the grounds of humanitarian concerns.
DPP legislators Tang Bi-a (
"Whether Japan will allow Lee's trip will determine whether it is a democratic country that safeguards human rights or a hegemonic country," Tang said before presenting the petition letter to Yamashita.
Chang said that "if Japan turns down Lee's application, it will not be qualified as an advanced nation."
Hung acknowledged that Japan was under great pressure, but Chiu wondered why the US would allow Lee to visit in May, while Tokyo was likely to refuse him a chance for a medical examination in Japan.
The KMT, except for those who are regarded as being part of Lee's faction, did not voice support for him yesterday. KMT spokeswoman Chen Feng-hsin (
When Lee was still in office, his doctor, Lien Wen-ping (連文彬), had sworn several times that Lee had "the stomach of a 30-year-old and the body of 50-year-old."
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