Japan to give visa to Lee

By F.J. Khergamvala

TOKYO, APRIL. 19. Bowing before public opinion and heavy pressure from Taiwan, Japan's outgoing Mori Government decided to grant the 78-year-old former Taiwanese President, Mr. Lee Teng-hui a visa to visit Japan.

Mr Lee, who said in Taiwan that he had not received any such decision by Thursday evening, plans to reach Japan on Sunday. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said because of the time factor, the application would be processed quickly. The conditions to be imposed include limiting Mr. Lee to Kurashiki town where the hospital is located and where the Japanese specialist will attend to Mr. Lee and, his visit will solely be for medical reasons. These were the instructions given by Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the outgoing Prime Minister.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry continued to maintain its position that Mr. Lee's visit was a ploy to continue his ``splittist'' activities that Japan could not see through in a realistic manner. Mr. Yohei Kono said the matter was settled after the Japanese Government cautiously determined the propriety of its decision after consulting Beijing.

Underlying the calculations are some pending trade and economic contracts which brought business into play. Notably, like it did to Mr. Rupert Murdoch for many years, the Chinese Government continued to deny the Japanese some dearly sought after contracts even after much wooing of China by the Japanese Government and business consortia.

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Section  : International
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