Japanese visits trouble Beijing

A recent flood of visits to Taiwan by Japanese congressmen and former officials is raising concerns among officials in Beijing, some of whom believe the visits will pave the way for another visit to Japan this fall by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

While Japan's Diet is in recess, over 40 members of the congress have visited Taiwan during July and August, igniting concerns on the part of Beijing, sources said.

On Aug. 29, China's National People's Congress Chairman Li Peng (李鵬) told a Japanese delegation led by Endo Otohiko, a former member of the Japanese House of Representatives, his worries about "the expansion of pro-Taiwan forces" in Japan's political circles, reports in Japan said.

"He [Li] has been extremely displeased," Lo Fu-chen (羅福全), Taipei's de facto ambassador to Tokyo, told the Taipei Times confirming the reports.

"It simply didn't make any sense to him why few [Japanese congressmen] visited Beijing [of late] and about 40 to 50 went to Taipei."

Some media in Japan even saw Li's statement as part of a preemptive move by China to hinder Lee's proposed visit to Japan in the fall.

Lee, who has been labeled a "troublemaker" by Beijing, concluded a five-day visit to Japan in April for his post-operation medical checkup after Japan issued a visa to Taiwan's former head of state. Lee recently voiced his hope to visit Japan this fall to receive another round of medical examinations.

The list of Japanese visitors to Taiwan recently has included Koichi Kato, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party; Nakagawa Shoichi, former Minister of Agriculture; Forestry and Fisheries, and Seshiro Eto, former Minister of Defense.

Kato, labeled a pro-Beijing politician, gave a talk in Taipei earlier this week under the invitation of a foundation organized by Ho Chi-ming (何既明), Lee's friend for the past 50 years who accompanied Lee on his April trip.

Lo said more is yet to come, with heavyweight Japanese politician Yamanaka Taisoku scheduled to attend Taiwan's national day celebration on Oct. 10.

Lo said the recent flood of visitors from Japan's political circles to Taipei was mainly triggered by newly elected Japanese congressmen's interest in obtaining first-hand information on the administration led by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

"Taiwan has drawn much attention in Japan at present. It's because of the new government led by Chen, and Taiwan's relatively increased importance to the US under [President George W.] Bush," Lo said.

Some interpreted these visits as being conducive to Lee's planned visit to Japan in autumn.

"It's highly likely that the issue of Lee's visit was mentioned to these visitors, and they should become conducive forces [to Lee's visit] after returning to Japan," said Miki Chang (張茂森), Tokyo-based Liberty Times correspondent.

Taipei has downplayed Lee's proposed visit out of fear that any high-profile move would trigger a response from China.