李登輝前総統来日関連報道（4） 2004年12月20日

【AP通信①】Chinese protesters carry the Chinese national flag and a banner which reads ‘We condemn Japan’s rude interference into China’s internal affairs,’ during an organized protest outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing, China, Monday, Dec 20, 2004.

Chanting ‘oppose the Japanese government,’ a small group of about 20 Chinese protesters demanded Monday that Tokyo reverse its decision to grant former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui a visa to visit Japan for the holidays.

【AP通信②】A Chinese protester reads out a statement of protest near banners demanding the Japanese government revoke Lee Teng-hui’s visa during an organized protest outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing, China, Monday, Dec 20, 2004.

Chanting ‘oppose the Japanese government,’ a small group of about 20 Chinese protesters demanded Monday that Tokyo reverse its decision to grant former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui a visa to visit Japan for the holidays. Top banner discourages any encouragement of pro independence forces in Taiwan.

【Reuters】Japan to Give Taiwan’s Lee Visa Despite China Ire

Japan said on Monday it would issue a visa as scheduled for former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui to visit for sightseeing despite angry protests from China.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have already been chilled by a string of disputes, including one over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are honored with other Japanese war dead.

“We plan to issue a visa as scheduled,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda told reporters. He did not say when the visa would be issued for the outspoken Lee.

Beijing, which sees self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as a renegade Chinese province, has lodged a protest with Japan over its decision to let Lee visit and urged Tokyo to scrap the plan.

The 81-year-old Lee and his family are expected to arrive in Nagoya in central Japan on Dec. 27 and visit hot springs before leaving for home on Dec. 31, Japanese media said.

Hosoda urged media not to follow Lee and report about his trip as his journey was “private” with no political intentions.

Lee tried to raise Taiwan’s diplomatic profile during his 12 years as president, redefining the island’s ties with China as “special state-to-state” relations in 1999 and causing Beijing to break off fence-mending negotiations to this day.

Lee stepped down as president in 2000 and became “spiritual leader” of a new party with an avid pro-independence stance.

Lee last came to Japan in 2001 for medical treatment, triggering an angry response from Beijing.

【毎日①】　李登輝前総統：中国大使館幹部、入国ビザ発給で報復示唆

中国の在東京中国大使館幹部は20日、報道陣に対し、日本政府が台湾の李登輝前総統に日本入国査証（ビザ）の発給を決めたことについて「中日関係にダメージを与えるのは間違いない。ダメージの程度は（李氏の）訪日内容などによる」と述べ、報復措置を検討していることを示唆した。

この問題では武大偉中国外務次官も北京で16日に阿南惟茂・駐中国大使に対し、同様の抗議を行っている。しかし、李前総統は17日に台北で観光目的のビザを申請しており、発給される見通しだ。

【時事通信①】台湾前総統訪日で抗議デモ＝北京

中国・北京の日本大使館前で20日午後、日本政府が台湾の李登輝前総統に対する入国ビザ（査証）発給の方針を決めたことなどに抗議するデモが約30分間行われた。

デモに参加した活動家らは約30人。「李登輝訪日を撤回しろ」などと横断幕を掲げて気勢を上げ、大使館側に抗議文書を手渡した。

【時事通信②】李登輝氏へのビザ発給に抗議－北京

北京の日本大使館前で、日本政府が李登輝前台湾総統に入国ビザを発給する方針を決めたことなどに抗議するデモ隊。参加者は２０人余とわずかだった。

【毎日②】官房長官：台湾の李・前総統訪日　異例の報道自粛要請

細田博之官房長官は20日の記者会見で、台湾の李登輝前総統の来日（27日に予定）について「空港に出迎えたり、旅館に押しかけたり、汽車に同乗して取材をしたりしないでほしい」と異例の報道自粛要請を行った。

政府の査証（ビザ）発給方針に強く反発する中国をこれ以上、刺激したくないとの思惑からとみられるが、会見では「プライベートな旅行だから、そういうふうに（取材）されることはご迷惑がかかるだろう」とも述べ、「私的旅行」と主張する李氏側に対しても取材に応じないよう暗にくぎを刺した。

01年4月に李氏が「治療目的」で来日した際には、自粛要請はなかった。この時は、日本と台湾の報道陣が李氏の行動が連日報じた。

【Reuters②】日本政府、李前総統に予定通りビザ発給へ

日本政府は20日、観光目的で訪日を希望している台湾の李登輝前総統（81）に、予定通り査証（ビザ）を発給する方針を明らかにした。

細田官房長官は記者団に対し、李氏にビザを発給する姿勢を表明したが、具体的な時期には言及しなかった。

国内各メディアによると、李氏と家族は27日に名古屋から入国して温泉を訪れ、31日に出国する予定。

中国政府は日本政府に対し、ビザ発給方針の撤回を強く求めている。

【Reuters③】Japan to Give Taiwan’s Lee Visa Despite China’s Fury

Japan said Monday it would issue a visa as scheduled for former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui to visit for sightseeing despite angry protests from China.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have already been chilled by a string of disputes, including one over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s regular visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are honored with other Japanese war dead.

“We plan to issue a visa as scheduled,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda told reporters. He did not say when the outspoken Lee would receive his visa.

Beijing, which sees self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as a renegade Chinese province, has protested to Japan over its decision to let Lee visit and urged Tokyo to scrap the plan.

Lee, 81, and his family are expected to arrive in Nagoya in central Japan on Dec. 27 and visit hot springs before leaving for home on Dec. 31, Japanese media said.

Hosoda urged media not to follow Lee and report on his trip as the visit was “private” with no political intentions.

In Beijing Monday, about 45 furious Chinese shouting slogans and carrying banners gathered outside the Japanese embassy to protest over Lee’s visit. One protester burned a drawing of Koizumi.

A spokesman for the group, calling themselves the “Patriotic Alliance,” read aloud a lengthy statement denouncing Japan’s decision and its militarist past.

“If the Japanese government doesn’t heed the Chinese government’s warning, and allows Lee Teng-hui to visit Japan, it will cause a fierce reaction,” spokesman Zhang Jianyong told reporters.

“The Japanese side is intentionally provoking this issue and causing problems that are none of its business.”

A Chinese diplomat urged Tokyo Monday to reverse its visa decision.

“It is certain that it (the visa issuance) will have a negative effect on Japan-China ties,” Cheng Yonghua, minister at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, told reporters.

Kyodo news agency quoted Cheng as saying that Lee’s planned visit, if it took place, would become a “new dispute” between the two Asian rivals.

“Next year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, is an important and sensitive year to look into the future of Japan-China ties,” he was quoted as saying.

Lee tried to raise Taiwan’s diplomatic profile during his 12 years as president, redefining its ties with China in 1999 as “special state-to-state” relations and causing Beijing to break off fence-mending talks which remain suspended to this day.

Lee stepped down as president in 2000 and became “spiritual leader” of a new party with an avowed pro-independence stance.

He last came to Japan in 2001 for medical treatment, triggering an angry response from Beijing.