Lee Teng-hui plans another Japan trip, And a Visit to Yasukuni Shrine too! Options

[RentonWong]

Published on TaipeiTimes
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/arc...1/04/2003278641

Lee Teng-hui plans another Japan trip
By Jewel Huang
STAFF REPORTER, WITH CNA
Friday, Nov 04, 2005,Page 3

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said yesterday that he is interested in visiting Japan this coming spring, saying he has been planning a trip but he wondered if "other people" would let him go.

He made the statement in Taoyuan after attending the closing ceremony for the Lee Teng-hui School's special program for Japanese professors and students.

When asked if he was planning to visit Japan next April, Lee said, "Yes, I'm planning [the trip], and I want to go there, too. But I wonder if other people would let me go."

Lee did not say who "other people" were, but it is generally considered that he meant China, which has pressured the Japanese government not to allow him to visit Japan.

Lee intends to visit Tokyo and pay a visit to a scenic spot in northeast Japan called Okunohosomichi. In an interview with the Japanese press, Lee has also mentioned that he wanted to visit the Yasukuni Shrine to perform a memorial service for his brother, who is enshrined there, according to a friend of Lee's, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At present, most of the newly appointed members of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet are friendly to Taiwan, which provides Lee with a good opportunity to revisit Japan, the friend said.

Lee has visited Japan twice in the past five years -- in April 2001 and last December -- and the spring is an advantageous time for Lee to go back to Japan, after his successful visit to the US last month.

"Although Lee's plan to visit Japan is not confirmed yet, the direction is quite sure and the plan will definitely move ahead," the friend said.

The slave finally shows his true colors.

[chickery]

renton, once again you have nothing to say that will help relations between china & taiwan

[product_ako]

More like LTH actions are not helping Taiwan and China cross-strait relations.

[chickery]

right, because the former president's actions in present day dictate those relations

[Suijen]

LTH is trolling, plain and simple.

fu-king

This post has been edited by Suijen: Nov 4 2005, 04:00 PM

[chickery]

i dont understand why its so wrong for LTH to go to Japan.

seriously, you people read way too much into what you want to believe.

[RentonWong]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

[Suijen]

Why does he decide to go to the Yakasuni shrine NOW of all times when China is pissed off at Japan for doing that?

He's not going there to honor his Japanese brother. He's going there so that he can piss off the Chinese. It's the same reason the PM does it nowadays. He knows it's going to PO the Chinese. And he does it IN SPITE of it. How is this guy a diplomat?

[chickery]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

[chynagongju]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

What did you do at the shrine?

LTH going to Japan to visit the Yasukuni Shrine is a bad thing. Even if he's a former leader. Perhaps especially because he is a former leader. The symbolism behind the PM of Japan's visits to YS is honoring war criminals from WWII. Bad stuff is LTH also wants to do the same.

How and why is his brother entombed at YS anyways?

[Suijen]

I guess he aided the Japanese in occupying Taiwan and China,

[Temujin]

STUPID JAPANESE DOGS!!!

[RentonWong]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

I'm not surprised if you visited the Yasukuni shrine. Your "taiwanese-American" probobly visited purely out of spite 2

Here is a description of the Yasukuni Shrine

Yasukuni Shrine (literally "peaceful nation shrine") is a controversial Shinto shrine located in Tokyo, Japan dedicated to the spirits of soldiers who died fighting on behalf of the Japanese emperor. The name of the shrine was originally written 靖國神社 (Yasukuni Jinja). But with the designation of the jōyō kanji, the name is now written in the simplified 靖国神社.

As of October 2004, its Book of Souls lists the names of 2,466,532 Japanese and former colonial soldiers (mostly Korean and Taiwanese) killed in war. Also honored here are 14 Japanese Class A war criminals, a fact which has engendered protests in a number of neighboring countries who believe their presence indicates a failure on the part of Japan to fully atone for its military past.

The shrine honors as kami the spirits of those who have fought on behalf of the emperor. This includes about 1,000 POWs executed for war crimes during World War II. In addition, on October 17, 1978, 14 Class A war criminals (according to the judgement of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East), including Hideki Tojo, were quietly enshrined as "Martyrs of Shōwa" (昭和殉難者 Shōwa junnansha). They are listed below, according to their sentencing:

    * Death by hanging:

          Hideki Tojo, Itagaki Seishiro, Heitaro Kimura, Kenji Doihara, Iwane Matsui, Akira Muto, Koki Hirota

    * Lifetime imprisonment:

          Yoshijiro Umezu, Kuniaki Koiso, Kiichiro Hiranuma, Toshio Shiratori

    * 20-year imprisonment:

          Shigenori Togo

    * Died before a judicial decision was reached (due to illness or disease):

          Osami Nagano, Yosuke Matsuoka

When this was revealed to the media on April 19, 1979, it started a controversy which continues to this day. For China, Korea (both North and South), Taiwan, and other nations that suffered from Japanese military aggression and occupation, the shrine is a symbol of Japanese militarism and right-wing nationalism. Peace groups in Japan also take issue with the shrine for similar reasons.

In addition, Yasukuni Shrine operates a museum on the history of Japan which outside observers have criticized as presenting a revisionist interpretation. A documentary-style video shown to museum visitors portrays Japan's conquest of East Asia during the pre-World War II period as an effort to save the region from the imperial advances of Western powers. Displays deny that events such as the Nanking Massacre took place and systematically portrays Japan as a victim of foreign influence, especially Western pressure.

A pamphlet published by the shrine says: "War is a really tragic thing to happen, but it was necessary in order for us to protect the independence of Japan and to prosper together with Asian neighbors." It also says that Japanese POWs executed for war crimes were "cruelly and unjustly tried" by a "sham-like tribunal of the Allied forces".

The shrine's English language website defends Japanese occupation and aggression prior to and during World War II, by stating the following: "War is truly sorrowful. Yet to maintain the independence and peace of the nation and for the prosperity of all of Asia, Japan was forced into conflict.

After the revelation by the media, Emperor Hirohito stopped paying visits to Yasukuni Shrine and his successor, Emperor Akihito, has also refrained from doing so. However, there are strong voices among certain circles in Japan urging the emperor to visit the shrine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_shrine#Controversy
http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/http://w...n20041220f1.htm

Here is the same article in Lee Teng Hui's native language:

靖国神社（靖國神社、やすくに・じんじゃ）は、東京都千代田区にある神社で、近代以降の日本が関係した国内外の事変・戦争において、朝廷側及び日本政府側で戦役に付し、戦没した軍人・軍属等を、慰霊・顕彰・崇敬等の目的に祭神として祀る神社である。

日本で国家に殉じた戦没者（自衛隊殉職者も含む）を祭神とするため、日本国外では戦争神社(war shrine)と呼ぶ人もいる。地名から「九段」「九段下」などと呼ばれることも多い。

単一宗教法人であり、神社本庁には加盟していない。

A級戦犯の合祀

第二次世界大戦後の極東国際軍事裁判（いわゆる「東京裁判」）において処刑された（特にA級戦犯を指す）人々が、1978年10月17日に国家の犠牲者『昭和殉難者』として合祀されていた事実が、1979年4月19日にマスコミに大きく報道されて国民の広く知るところとなった。戦後昭和天皇は数年おきに参拝していたが、合祀以前の1975年（昭和50年）頃からマスコミによる「私的・公的」や「玉串料の支払」等の問いただしで、当時の三木首相の「私的参拝」発言により憲法論議を招来し政治的騒擾に巻き込む事になる。側近によれば昭和天皇はA級戦犯合祀に反対だったとされ、天皇親拝は1975年11月21日、終戦30周年が最後となっている。それ以降、春秋の例大祭などにおいては勅使が遣わされている。しかし、2004年8月15日には石原慎太郎都知事が「天皇陛下による参拝を望む」と、マスメディアに発言するなど、天皇による靖国神社参拝を望む声も多々ある。 尚、靖国神社に合祀されているA級戦犯は以下の14人である。

  1. 刑死した者
          * 東条英機（内閣総理大臣･陸軍大臣・陸軍大将・絞首刑）
          * 広田弘毅（内閣総理大臣・外務大臣・駐ソヴィエト大使・絞首刑）
          * 土肥原賢二（陸軍大将・奉天特務機関長・絞首刑）
          * 板垣征四郎（陸軍大将・支那派遣軍総参謀長・絞首刑）
          * 木村兵太郎（陸軍大将・ビルマ方面軍司令官・絞首刑）
          * 松井石根（陸軍大将・中支那方面軍司令官・絞首刑）
          * 武藤章（陸軍中将・陸軍省軍務局長・絞首刑）
  2. 刑期中に病死した者
          * 平沼騏一郎（内閣総理大臣・枢密院議長・終身刑）
          * 白鳥敏夫（駐イタリア大使・終身刑）
          * 小磯国昭（内閣総理大臣・朝鮮総督・陸軍大将・終身刑）
          * 梅津美治郎（陸軍大将・関東軍司令官・陸軍参謀総長・終身刑）
          * 東郷茂徳（外務大臣・駐ドイツ／駐ソヴィエト大使・禁固20年）

  1. 戦犯指定を受けながら判決前に病死した者

    * 永野修身（海軍大臣・海軍大将・海軍軍令部総長）
    * 松岡洋右（外務大臣・南満州鉄道総裁）

極東アジアの軍人軍属の合祀

第二次大戦期に日本兵として戦った台湾や朝鮮出身の元軍人軍属も多数祀られている。

しかし、2001年6月29日、台湾や韓国の元軍人軍属の一部遺族計252名が、日本に対し戦争で受けた被害として24億円余の賠償金を求めた裁判（敗訴）があり、原告の一部から「戦死した親族の靖国神社への合祀（ごうし）は自らの意思に反し、人格権の侵害である」として、55人が合祀の停止、66人が遺骨返還、16人が生死確認を求めるなど、一部からは反発も受けている。合祀しなかった場合、日本人は台湾・韓国人元軍人軍属を平等に扱わなかったと別の面で批判された可能性も指摘されている。

「親族の意に反した合祀は日本によるアジア侵略の象徴である」との批判がある一方、「英霊として日本人と分け隔てなく祀ることは日本だけでなく台湾や韓国の元軍人軍属への最大の敬意の現れであり、靖国神社へ合祀している事は日本の台湾や韓国への植民地政策が、欧州各国による東南アジア植民地政策とは一線を画すものだ」とする意見もある。

なお、いったん合祀した神霊は、その後から分祀しても元々の社殿に残るため、英霊として祭られた人々の霊を靖国の社から取り除くことは不可能であると靖国神社は主張している。海外の遺族が、家族(の霊)を返してくれと抗議しても、叶わないのは、このような理由である。これはＡ級戦犯に関しても同じで、いったん合祀した霊魂を、靖国の社から取り除くことは不可能であるという。

（靖国神社問題を参照）

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9D%96%E5%...%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE

Japanese is the first language for Lee Teng Hui aka 岩里政男 (Yanli Zhengnan) his preferred Japanese name 2

This post has been edited by RentonWong: Nov 4 2005, 08:35 PM

[chynagongju]

I guess he aided the Japanese in occupying Taiwan and China,

I see. That's odd how LTH does not vouch for his brother's remains to be transported back to Taiwan. There are many groups in Taiwan that protest for that right.

[chickery]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

What did you do at the shrine?

LTH going to Japan to visit the Yasukuni Shrine is a bad thing. Even if he's a former leader. Perhaps especially because he is a former leader. The symbolism behind the PM of Japan's visits to YS is honoring war criminals from WWII. Bad stuff is LTH also wants to do the same.

How and why is his brother entombed at YS anyways?

YSis also a place that the Taiwanese feel strongly compelled to go to~ they believe many ancestors are housed there and frequently, Taiwanese groups along with Japanese groups go to plea for peace.

BTW i went there to observe the contraversy of the architecture as compared to the current events.

[Kim Jung Il]

shameful

[RentonWong]

Im glad your ancestors are proud to be tools for the imperial Japanese Army (IJA)

[intestine_treasu...]

this is very low dignity behaviour for humans i cant explain it

[chynagongju]

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

What did you do at the shrine?

LTH going to Japan to visit the Yasukuni Shrine is a bad thing. Even if he's a former leader. Perhaps especially because he is a former leader. The symbolism behind the PM of Japan's visits to YS is honoring war criminals from WWII. Bad stuff is LTH also wants to do the same.

How and why is his brother entombed at YS anyways?

YSis also a place that the Taiwanese feel strongly compelled to go to~ they believe many ancestors are housed there and frequently, Taiwanese groups along with Japanese groups go to plea for peace.

BTW i went there to observe the contraversy of the architecture as compared to the current events.

Shouldn't the Taiwanese protest for the remains of their ancestors to be returned to Taiwan instead of being stored in Japan? I heard that many aborigine groups do protest for this.

They go to plea for peace? What do you mean? If you want to plea for peace, that would not be the place to go.

[chickery]

Im glad your ancestors are proud to be tools for the imperial Japanese Army (IJA)

wow clearly you didnt read anything i said.

oh and i think when in this day in age that taiwanese people are being murdered in china for the sole purpose of being taiwanese, someone like you should re-think criticizing another country for mistreating taiwan.

Do you know the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine?

If not, it is ok because you are only taiwanese-AMERICAN. (NOTE emphasis of American)

uh huh.

id say sorry, but since my taiwanese-AMERICAN has actually BEEN to the shrine, no thanks.

since you didnt know, its ok since you are only chinese-CANADIAN. (NOTE emphasis of Canadian)

What did you do at the shrine?

LTH going to Japan to visit the Yasukuni Shrine is a bad thing. Even if he's a former leader. Perhaps especially because he is a former leader. The symbolism behind the PM of Japan's visits to YS is honoring war criminals from WWII. Bad stuff is LTH also wants to do the same.

How and why is his brother entombed at YS anyways?

YSis also a place that the Taiwanese feel strongly compelled to go to~ they believe many ancestors are housed there and frequently, Taiwanese groups along with Japanese groups go to plea for peace.

BTW i went there to observe the contraversy of the architecture as compared to the current events.

Shouldn't the Taiwanese protest for the remains of their ancestors to be returned to Taiwan instead of being stored in Japan? I heard that many aborigine groups do protest for this.

They go to plea for peace? What do you mean? If you want to plea for peace, that would not be the place to go.

when they go there, the do so to perform rituals that they believe will bring back their ancestors to taiwan.