LEAD: China protests emperor's birthday celebration in Taiwan

Asian Political News, Dec 8, 2003

BEIJING, Dec. 3 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

Chinese officials said Wednesday they had protested to Japanese diplomats against Japan's planned celebration of Emperor Akihito's birthday with political figures in Taiwan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has ''approached the Japanese side many times to express solemn representations'' in response to the celebration, according to a statement to Kyodo News from the ministry spokesperson's office.

The Interchange Association in Taipei, Japan's de facto diplomatic mission, will invite 600 political and business leaders to a celebration on Dec. 12. Taiwan cabinet members and senior officials with the ruling pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party are on the guest list.

Calling Japan's relations with Taiwan a ''serious sensitive issue,'' the statement says China opposes any official relation between Taiwan and Japan.

The ministry urges Japan to follow political principles in a 1972 Sino-Japanese joint communique in which Japan recognizes the government in Beijing as the sole legal government of China.

The Interchange Association decided to hold the ceremony to answer calls from Japanese people in Taiwan and sent invitations last month. The emperor's birthday is Dec. 23, a holiday in Japan.