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Japan urges direct

China-Taiwan talks

to defuse tension

TOKYO: Japan on Tuesday again urged China and Taiwan to resume direct talks to defuse tension across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen issued another warning - this time to Japanese business leaders - that foreign support for Taiwan independence could trigger a major crisis.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yikihiko Ikeda, quoted by Kyodo News Service, said: "We went the two parties concerned to try to defuse tensions through direct talks and resolve their dispute.

"We hope tensions will not unnecessarily run higher", he said, referring to Taipei's planned series of live-fire drills April 7-10 in the front-line island group of Matsu near the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan's Defense ministry announced at the weekend it would conduct three drills, including one live-fire exercise, although it maintained they were not related to the recent series of Chinese war games in the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile Qian, meeting with business executives of Japan's Federation of Economic Organisation (Keidanren), issued another warning against Japanese involvement in rows with Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province.

"If the forces for independence (in Taiwan) gain foreign support, it might lead to a great crisis", he said.

He issued a similar warning on Monday in talks with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

Qian assured Japanese industry leaders that Beijing would leave Hong Kong's economy intact after it gets the territory back from Britain in July next year.

"The economic system and mechanism (of Hong Kong) will be unchanged, and foreign investment as well as rights and interests will be maintained under law", Qian said.

Qian arrived in Tokyo on Sunday for a four-day visit.-APP