Staff writer

TAIPEI -- Japan should recognize that Taiwan currently exists as a separate political entity from China, and it should help persuade China that maintaining a friendly relationship with Taiwan will benefit both sides of the Taiwan Strait, a leading Taiwanese businessman said recently.

Expressing concerns over the recent deterioration of cross-strait relations, Theodore M.H. Huang, chairman of TECO Electric & Machinery Co., said that Japanese politicians only give an ear to mainland China although some indicate privately that they understand Taiwan's situation very well.