Ma stresses value of ties with Japan on Abe visit

He also stressed that his policies show no leaning toward Beijing, as alleged by some critics.

Concerning a visit by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's to the nation's Martyrs Shrine, Ma described it as an act of good will and he welcomed such a friendly attitude.

At a reception marking resumption of direct flights between Taipei's Songshan Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport after a suspension of 31 years, Ma said the flight service is one of the concrete moves to strengthen interchanges with Japan.

He also explained that this proved that the Chinese mainland is not the only counterpart his administration has been engaging.

Ma refuted some people's allegations that he has been leaning too heavily toward Beijing.

He explained that while the government has taken steps to improve relations with Beijing, it has at the same time continued to beef up ties with both Japan and the United States.

Ma also pointed out that during his meeting with Abe on Sunday, the visiting former Japanese leader had expressed support for the efforts to improve the relations across the Taiwan Strait and defuse the tensions in the region.

At a meeting of senior officials of the ruling Kuomintang, Ma told participants in his capacity as party chairman that Abe's presentation of a wreath at the Martyrs Shrine exemplifies Japan's goodwill and friendly attitude to Taiwan.

Ma's spokesman. Lo Chih-chiang, disagreed with former President Lee Teng-hui, who asserted that people in Taiwan should also pay respects at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine — a memorial to Japan's war dead.

Lo explained that the situations in Taiwan and Japan are different, and it is improper for the nation's officials to pay respects at the Tokyo shrine.

Some other KMT officials also said that Lee's analogy between the nation's Martyrs Shrine and the Yasukuni Shrine, where some of Japan's war criminals were also dedicated, was inappropriate.

Abe was quoted as saying that he will find a chance to recommend that his predecessor — former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi — also visit Taiwan soon. He made the remarks when meeting with Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng and other lawmakers yesterday morning.

KMT Legislator Lee Hung-chun said that Wang invited Abe to give a speech at the legislature next time he visits. “He (Abe) happily accepted the invitation and said he will find a chance during his next visit,” Lee added.

The 56-year-old arrived in Taipei a day earlier for the two-day visit.

Abe's Cabinet had pushed hard for direct flights between the two capital cities during his time in office, so he took the resumption very seriously, Lee said.

Abe said there are no problems that cannot be solved between Japan and Taiwan, thanks to the solid bilateral relations.

Asked whether the meeting touched upon the Tiaoyutai Islands controversy, Lee said the sensitive topic was not broached.

Story continues on page 19

However, the lawmaker said Ma, who met with Abe a day earlier, did bring up the subject of the disputed islands, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, with both men claiming their respective countries' sovereignty over the islands in the East China Sea.

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