Lee visit shouldn't harm China relations: Japan

Hamburg, May 29: Japan said a planned visit to Tokyo this week by former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui was a tourist trip only and should not impact Japan's relations with China.

Lee, 84, who was president from 1988 to 2000, is reviled by Beijing for asserting the self-ruled island's sovereignty.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso discussed Lee's trip yesterday with Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi before a meeting of Asian and European Union foreign ministers in Hamburg.

''The Chinese side expressed concern about the visit because it may have some political implications,'' Japan foreign ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba said at a briefing.

''The Japanese foreign minister said to the Chinese foreign minister that to our knowledge the visit of Mr Lee is for touristic purposes and cultural programmes,'' Sakaba said.

''We understand that this visit will not have any political impact on our relations,'' he added.

Beijing has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949 when the Nationalist (KMT) armies took refuge there after losing power on the Chinese mainland to Mao Zedong's Communists.

China says Tokyo's unofficial ties with Taiwan, which Japan ruled for 50 years, put extra strain on Japan-China relations.

China suspects Lee of cultivating political contacts in Japan to push for formal Taiwan independence. Beijing menaced Taipei with missile tests and war games in the run-up to Lee's re-election as president in 1996.

Lee last visited Japan in January 2005, bringing Beijing's wrath down on Tokyo for allowing it.

The veteran former president planned another Japan trip for September 2006, but after China warned Tokyo it would harm their relationship, Lee called off the visit citing health reasons.

Reuters>