The government issued a visa Tuesday to former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui and China quickly reacted by urging Japan to cancel the move.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters his administration had "no reason to deny" a visa to Lee, because he wants to travel to Japan as a private citizen.
In an apparent attempt to avoid politicizing Lee's visit, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said LDP lawmakers should avoid contacting the former Taiwanese president during his stay.