Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi urgently met with Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami Friday evening and lodged solemn representations with the Japanese government on its decision.

Wang said China has, through various channels, repeatedly expounded the serious political nature of Lee's visit to Japan and demanded Japan to observe the fundamental principles of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration and deter Lee from visiting Japan.

However, Wang said, it is a regret that Japan is adamant on permitting Lee to visit.

"The Chinese government strongly protest against this," Wang said.

Wang pointed out that Lee, the chief representative of "Taiwan independence" forces, has never stopped his activities of splitting China.

He has been attempting to visit Japan using all sorts of excuses, and this time it is on the pretence of his needs for "medical treatments," Wang said.

In fact, Lee is going to Japan to peddle his "Taiwan Independence" policy and seek support there, Wang said.

This time, some dignities of Taiwan authorities also gave support to Lee, claiming this is a so-called "issue of the whole nation," Wang said.

This fully demonstrates that Lee's visit to Japan is neither a visit of a "civilian" nor a so-called "humanitarian issue," but a pure and simple political issue, Wang stressed.

The Japanese government made clear commitments in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement that it fully understands and respects Chinese government's stand on the Taiwan issue, and it said later on many occasions that it would abide by the One-China principle and would not support "Taiwan independence," according to Wang.

There is nothing more important than keeping one's words in dealing with the relations between two countries, he said.

Lee cooked up the "two states" theory and is still engaged in activities aimed at separating Taiwan from China. Japan's approval of Lee's visit has seriously violated the principles of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and betrayed its serious commitments, damaging the political foundation of the Sino-Japanese relations, Wang said.

Wang said that the Japanese side has yet to give a proper explanation on the Japanese history textbook issue to the Chinese people, and has now caused a disturbance on the Taiwan issue again.

To safeguard the political foundation of the Sino-Japanese relationship and the seriousness of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, the Chinese side has to make a response, he said.

Anami said he will report the stance of the Chinese side to the Japanese government immediately, saying that Lee's visit to Japan will be strictly limited to medical treatments.

The ambassador said the Japanese government will not change its stand on adhering to the principles of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.

(Xinhua 04/21/2001)