Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei spoke with Japanese ambassador Koreshige Anami on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest against his government issuing an entry visa to Lee Teng-hui.

Wu explained China's position on Lee's tour to Japan to the ambassador, saying that Lee is the chief representative of a radical force for Taiwan independence and a troublemaker on the international arena.

He said that by allowing Lee's entry the Japanese government is complicit in supporting Taiwan independence forces. The move sends a wrong signal to them, and severely disturbs China-Japan relations. He added that the Japanese government must bear all the consequences.

Koreshige Anami promised to report China's protest to his government. He repeated that Japan maintains its adherence to the one-China policy, does not support Taiwan independence and will not allow any political activities by Lee Teng-hui in Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2004)