Former President Lee Teng-hui has declined to comment on whether he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
TV Tokyo reports that Abe visited Lee at his hotel Thursday morning. Taiwan and Japan do not have formal relations, and it is extremely rare for a former president of Taiwan to meet with a sitting Japanese prime minister. Such a meeting is likely to anger China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, even though the two sides have been ruled separately for more than 60 years.
Although the report says a Japanese lawmaker confirmed the meeting between Lee and Abe, Lee himself said he had “no comments” about whether the meeting took place.
Lee is currently in Japan for a six-day visit. On Wednesday he gave a speech at Japan’s parliament, becoming the first Taiwanese politician to do so.