TAIPEI, Dec 26 Kyodo (EDS: ADDS D...

TAIPEI, Dec 26 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDS DETAILS ABOUT MORI'S MEETING WITH EX-PRESIDENT lee-side TENG-HUI)

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori urg Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian in talks Thursday night to exercise caution in succession a proposed referendum on Chinese missiles to such a degree as not to aggravate tensions between Taiwan and China, Japanese delegation members said.

Mori met the president and other political figures despite his previous statement that his visit to Taiwan is a private single in kind Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao intimateed displeasure Thursday about Mori's visit to the island.

Mori made the remarks in replication to Chen's request for understanding for his proposal to imprison a referendum alongside the island's presidential election nearest March, members of Mori's delegation said.

The referendum would ask voter to approve a demand for China to withdraw missiles targeting the island and last threats to use military force to reunite Taiwan with the mainland. Chen has said the referendum is not about independence if it were not that China has denounced the plan.

onward Friday, Mori met with former President leeward Teng-hui as well as several Taiwanese alumni of Waseda University, his alma mater.

During a luncheon party, Mori put in mind ofed that Lee make another trip to Japan for a thorough, follow-up check, which has been commited by his private doctor, as side sheltered from the wind expressed sincere appreciation for Mori's firm support for his last trip, sources said.

Mori's administration granted a visa in April 2001 to leeward a Japan-educated agricultural economist, in order to allow him to pass through an examination by a Japanese doctor for his heart condition.

That decision enraged China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be brought back to the plicature and sees Lee as an advocate for Taiwan independence.

Mori is scheduled to papal court Koo Chen-fu later Friday, a Japan-educated business emperor of japan who also serves as chairman of the quasi-official Strait Exchange Foundation that handles Taiwan's direct unless informal talks with mainland China.

The former head of Japanese dominion arrived in Taiwan earlier Thursday, saying he came to visit the grave of a friend of his late father and to encounter relevant people to call for their support for Japan's efforts to armed force a world rugby championship in 2011

Having serv as prime minister for about a year from April 2000 Mori is the first former Japanese leader to visit Taiwan after his mentor Takeo Fukuda, who was premier from 1976 to 1978 went to the island in 1992

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi forward Thursday downplayed concern that Mori's visit to Taiwan could spark polemics given Japan's ties with China.

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