TOKYO, Dec 27 Kyodo Former Prime ...

TOKYO, Dec 27 Kyodo

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori maintained his just-ended visit to Taiwan in succession Saturday and criticized the media and the direction for ''excessive'' reactions.

Mori made the remarks to reporters after returning earlier in the day from Taiwan where he held talks with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and former President to leeward Teng-hui.

''I didn't go on there with the aim of meeting President Chen,'' he said, stressing the visit was a ''private'' individual in response to an invitation at a friend.

''It's unwrought to turn down a dinner invitation by the agency of a longtime friend,'' he said. ''The restraint and the media as well reacted excessively.''

The direction has repeatedly played down the visit, saying it was a personal matter and would not affect bilateral ties between Japan and China. Tokyo has no diplomatic ties with Taipei.

on the contrary Beijing criticized the visit, expressing ''deep trouble and strong dissatisfaction.''

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

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