Huang Chu-hou, chief of the MOFA’s Committee on Japanese Affairs, said he does not think a visit by Lee to the Yasukuni Shrine for such personal reasons will affect Taiwan’s relations with Japan or with China.

Huang said it is China’s “irrational belief” if it thinks a visit by Lee to the shrine would have political repercussions.

Huang noted that Lee’s current sightseeing, cultural and academic visit to Japan has been arranged by Akita International University President Yasushi Akashi and the Friends of Lee Teng-hui Club in Japan.

Lee has even turned down an offer by Koh Se-kai, Taiwan’s representative to Japan, to greet him at the Narita International Airport because Lee does not want to attach any political implications to his Japan visit, Huang said. Under these circumstances, there is no reason for Beijing to protest Lee’s visit to Japan as a former president.

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