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Wang, Hsieh to attend memorial service in Japan

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is scheduled to leave for Japan tomorrow for a three-day visit.

The main objective of his visit will be to attend a memorial service in honor of the late Japanese lawmaker Motoo Shiina, a Wang aide confirmed yesterday.

Wang will attend the memorial service slated for Wednesday in Tokyo before paying a visit to Takeo Hiranuma, chairman of the Japan-Republic of China Dietmen's Council, on Thursday, before returning to Taiwan that same day, the aide said.

Wang, who has close ties with members of the Japanese political scene, last visited Japan in July last year, when he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who at the time was chief Cabinet secretary.

Motoo Shiina and his father -- the late Etsusburo Shiina, an influential politician and a vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party -- were both good friends of Taiwan.

Motoo Shiina, a former Dietmen member and a leading authority on Japan-US relations, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital on March 16.

Over the course of his career, Shiina played an important role in Taiwan-Japan-US security and frequently spoke for Taiwan's cause in the international community.

Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has instructed former Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), the Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate, to attend Shiina's memorial service on his behalf.
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