Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara attended the May 20 inaugural ceremony for Taiwan's new president, Chen Shui-bian. While in Taipei, Ishihara talked with Chen and his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui, about various issues between Japan and Taiwan. This was good for Japan-Taiwan relations.
Chinese government sources in Beijing lashed out at the Ishihara visit, telling Japanese politicians to keep their hands off Taiwan. They react hysterically every time a Japanese politician visits Taiwan for talks with its leaders.
Their argument is this: Japanese legislators must not meet Taiwanese leaders without Beijing's permission because Taiwan is a part of China. Japan, of course, is an independent state and a member of the United Nations, not a protectorate of China. As a sovereign state, Japan should do what it wants. No countries have the right to dictate to this country. It is the Japanese government, not the Chinese government, that decides what Japan should do. It seems Beijing does not understand this.