The Chinese government has always been opposed to any form of visit, under any name, by Lee Teng-hui, to any country which has diplomatic ties with China.

Kong Quan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, made the remark in Beijing Tuesday during the regular press conference.

Kong said the Chinese government has made its position clear to the Japanese government, and has taken note of the Japanese government's statement on Monday that Lee's visa application to Japan did not meet its requirements.

The Chinese government hopes that the Japanese government will strictly abide by the spirit of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and resolve the issue in an appropriate manner, he said

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2002)