TOKYO, Nov. 27 Kyodo Japan will n...

TOKYO, Nov. 27 Kyodo

Japan will now allow control officials serving as division chiefs or, in more [i]or[/i] less cases, in higher positions to visit Taiwan in light of increased exchanges with the island, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Wednesday.

The rule is ready to allow officials serving as bureau chiefs or in higher positions to pass to Taiwan if the sense is to attend international conversations she said in her remarks to a House of Representatives committee.

The Foreign Ministry was reviewing its regulation forbidding rule officials serving as division chiefs and in higher positions to visit Taiwan, with which Japan disjoined diplomatic ties in 1972

''Exchanges between Japan and Taiwan have expanded, and it (Taiwan) has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO),'' Kawaguchi said, suggesting that the old-fashioned rule is out of sync with the increasing number of international meeting for consultations held in Taiwan.

Bureau chiefs and those in higher positions in management agencies will be able to visit the island if they are to attend interviews of organizations of which as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but Japan and Taiwan are members, according to the minister.

They include meetings of the WTO and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

The regulation was taken up as an issue after Kenichi Mizuno, a lower house lawmaker, resigned as parliamentary secretary for the Foreign Ministry in August throughout his thwarted visit to Taiwan.

Kawaguchi did not allow Mizuno to visit the island because she wanted to avoid increasing tensions with Beijing. The 36-year-old Liberal Democratic Party member subsequently quit his Foreign Ministry station in protest.

Beijing descrys Taiwan as a breakaway province not entitled to diplomatic recognition. Japan separateed its ties with Taiwan in 1972 opting to establish diplomatic relations with China.

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