Japan's Murayama steps into Asian Games dispute

Japan's Murayama steps into Asian Games dispute

TOKYO (Reuter): Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama for the first time yesterday stepped into the diplomatic row which threatens the Asian Games clearly advising Taiwan not to send its president to the event.

In a sign of how concerned Japan has become about China's threatened boycott of next month's Games in Hiroshima because of an invitation to Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, Murayama reminded Taiwan that Tokyo has a one-China policy.

Murayama, who until now had remained aloof in the hope the row could be sorted out by sports officials, told reporters: "Although we should hear circumstances on the matter precisely, it may be difficult to realize Lee's visit to Japan."

Murayama said under a 1972 Japan-China joint communique Tokyo officially recognized Beijing as the only Chinese government while severing diplomatic ties with Taipei.

On Monday a group of Taiwan lawmakers urged Japan not to bow to Chinese pressure to stop Lee from attending the event.

"We urge the Japan government to face the fact of friendly ties between the two sides, especially the very friendly unofficial contact, and to let President Lee go," legislator Tseng Yung-chuan, told reporters outside the Interchange Association, Japan's representative office in Taipei.

Meanwhile, Kyodo news agency said Olympic Council of Asia president, Ahmad al-Fahad of Kuwait, blamed by some Japanese officials for the controversy, also hinted that Lee's invitation might be withdrawn.

"My invitation to Taiwan's President Lee is proper. But there's a possibility it will be changed," Kyodo quoted the OCA president, as saying.

The invitation, extended earlier this summer by the OCA president, is causing major headaches for Japanese officials.

Kyodo said Ahmad was speaking in Paris after a meeting there on Monday with International Olympic Committee members from China, Taiwan and Japan.