China ramps up pressure on Japan over Kadeer visit

• Source: China Daily
• [08:19 July 30 2009]
• Comments

China Wednesday renewed its opposition to Japan's accommodation of Rebiya Kadeer, the leader of the separatist World Uyghur Congress (WUC).

Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei summoned Japan's ambassador to China, Yuji Miyamoto, and called upon the Japanese government to prevent Kadeer from engaging in anti-Chinese separatist activities while visiting the country, said the Foreign Ministry.

Kadeer is believed to be the mastermind behind the July 5 riot in Urumqi and responsible for a series of protests at Chinese embassies worldwide.

The riot in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region left nearly 200 dead and 1,600 injured.

Kadeer Wednesday denied any role in the riot and urged the United Nations to investigate the incident in what Beijing-based experts said was a move intended to distort the facts and push the blame on the government.

"I was not involved in the incident," AFP quoted Kadeer as saying at a press conference in Japan.

The 62-year-old said: "The responsibility lies with the authorities who changed what was a peaceful demonstration into a violent riot."

Kadeer met members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo Wednesday despite the fact that the Japanese government said on Tuesday Kadeer's visit would not affect China-Japan relations because she would not meet government officials.

"We examined her visa application, approved it and issued the visa based on the usual procedure," AP quoted Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo Kodama as saying.

However, Chinese ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai said on Monday that Kadeer's separatist activities in Japan will impact relations.

"Evidence showed the well-orchestrated riot was instigated and masterminded by the WUC led by Kadeer," he said.