Lee's day in Japan

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) spent his second day in Japan meeting old friends and touring famous destinations in Nagoya, as China repeated its "strong protests" against Tokyo's decision to allow Lee's trip.

According to a manager of the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, where Lee and his family are staying, the former president's room was strewn with flowers and gifts from friends and supporters.

"Mr. Lee loves Japanese food. Therefore, our hotel prepared Japanese-style meals for him," the manager said.

After finishing breakfast yesterday morning, Lee had a full schedule, meeting with his Japanese friends.

None of the people Lee met are incumbent government officials, sources told the Central News Agency.

Lee and his family visited Nagoya Castle and Takugawa Art Museum in Nagoya yesterday afternoon, the agency reported.

"I spent days in Nagoya around 60 years ago. I have wonderful memories about the city and really want to see what the city is like now," Lee told Japanese reporters who flew with him from Taipei to Nagoya.

Lee's granddaughter, Lee Kun-yi (李坤儀), and daughter-in-law, Chang Yue-yun (張月雲), who traveled with Lee to Japan, took their time shopping in a department store nearby the hotel in which they stayed at yesterday.

Lee Kun-yi and Chang bought two opera DVDs in the department store and spent a while in the furniture and home decorations section, said reporters who trailed them.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao (劉建超) said Beijing is very unhappy about Lee and his family's visit to Japan.

"We express strong protests against it," Liu said in a press conference.

Japan "sent a wrong signal to Taiwan's independence forces" by allowing Lee's trip and has hurt the "political foundation" of China-Japan relations, said Liu.

"We demand the Japan side focus on its relationship with China. It should carry out effective measures to alleviate the impact caused by Lee's visit," he added.

He stressed Beijing is closely watching the development of Lee's visit in Japan.

"We reserve the right to take further reactions to the event," he said.