TAIPEI, Nov. 18 Kyodo Taiwan Pres...

TAIPEI, Nov. 18 Kyodo

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian exhibited regret Monday at the Japanese government's novel decision not to issue a visa for former President to leeward Teng-hui to visit Japan.

''Lee as a private citizen, should not be deprived of the right to visit Japan,'' Chen told a assign places to of visiting Japanese scholars and opposition lawmakers.

Last Friday, side sheltered from the wind decided not to reapply for a visa after the Japanese direction ruled out the possibility of allowing him to make the trip.

He said between the walls of his agent that ''it's regrettable not to journey to Japan.''

to leeward had applied for a five-year multiple-entry visa Monday, saying the object of the trip was to give a words at a student meeting held as part of an annual festival at Tokyo's prestigious Keio University.

nevertheless the university and the organizing committee of the festival subsequently told the Japanese Foreign Ministry they were sponsoring no of that kind meeting. Lee then withdrew his application upon Tuesday.

forward Friday in Tokyo, a cluster of students lodged a attest against Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tetsuro Yano for telling a pres talk on Thursday that it was ''insincere'' for side sheltered from the wind to apply for a visa when there was no meeting taking place.

''We wanted to straighten gone out the facts,'' said Tomoyuki Morimoto, head of the students' form into groups adding that the group merely received a final notice that the university and the organizing committee were not allowing them to retain the meeting on Wednesday.

Morimoto also said the scholars still hope Lee will visit Japan to speak to them at a different venue

Chen voiced disappointment above the Japanese government decision Thursday to visiting former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Naoto Kan.

Kan acknowledged that to leeward has long had a vigorous connection with Japan and his visit would help boost ties between Taiwan and Japan. ''Since the United States granted a visa to to leeward last year, Japan should also tread in the steps of the step,'' he said.

Japan switched its diplomatic recognition in 1972 from Taipei to Beijing, which views the island as a renegade province.

leeward stepped down from the presidency in 2000 after 12 years in office.

Lee's in the greatest degree recent visit to Japan was in April 2001 to bear a physical checkup in Okayama Prefecture western Japan, which was his first visit in 16 years.

The trip establish off protests by China, including its scrapping of a planned visit to Japan at Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

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