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Top officials need visa for Japan trips

The nation's top five officials are still required to apply for a visa if they decide to visit Japan during the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) said yesterday.

According to Chen, Japan's visa exemption privilege for Taiwanese during the Aichi world exposition, also known as the Aichi Expo, does not apply to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Vice Premier Wu Rong-i (吳榮義) and the foreign minister.

He made the remarks while presiding over the opening of a diplomatic affairs training camp for volunteer workers in the Nanyuan Ranch in Tainan County.

As part of its efforts to attract more tourists to the Aichi Expo, Japan has decided to waive visa requirements for Republic of China (ROC) passport holders from Friday through Sept. 25.

However, Mark Chen said the Japanese government has imposed certain restrictions, including that the above-mentioned five officials still have to apply for a visa if they want to visit Japan during that period.

For fear of offending China, Japan has traditionally been reluctant to issue visas to senior Taiwanese leaders. The eco-friendly Aichi Expo is scheduled to open on March 25 and last until Sept. 25. To attract more foreign visitors, Japan has decided to offer visa-free entry to South Korean and Taiwanese tourists from this month until September. South Korea is Japan's largest source of foreign tourists, followed by Taiwan.

As Japan does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, the Japanese Diet passed special regulations on Feb. 16 to allow Taiwanese to enter Japan without a visa for a maximum 90-day stay between March 11 and Sept. 25.

The minister said China's diplomatic suppression against Taiwan has not eased since the meeting between Chen and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).
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