Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on Friday reiterated the government's official position that an application for an entry visa has not been filed for former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.
Kono's comment at a regular news conference contradicts the announcement made Thursday by Senior Vice Foreign Minister Seishiro Eto that he has confirmed with the top Japanese representative in Taipei that Lee had indeed submitted an application.
Lee has expressed a desire to visit a Japanese doctor who was present when he underwent heart surgery in Taipei last November. Eto indicated Thursday that the visa should be issued because Lee is now a private citizen.