Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian Monday received Japanese Lower House member Sadanori Yamanaka, the head of a Japanese delegation for the ROC National Day celebrations.
Chen welcomed the delegation and thanked Yamanaka for his long years of contributions to the promotion of substantive relations between Japan and Taiwan.
Chen affirmed the council's efforts to win the Japanese government's approval for Taiwan citizens to transit in Japan without visas for 72 hours and recognize the legality of the passports issued by the ROC government. The two countries broke off formal ties in September 1972.
During the reception, Chen told the senior Japanese lawmaker that as a member of the democratic world, the ROC, like Japan, fully supports the U.S.-led military actions against terrorism in Afghanistan.
He said the significance represented by the military actions is "respect for life" and "upholding human civilization," because everyone has the right to avoid fear and the threat of violence.
Chen said that the ROC government, along with other governments of the international community, condemned the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and support the anti-terrorism military actions by the United States and its allies.
The Japanese Lower House member paid the call on Chen, accompanied by Association of East Asian Relations Chairman Chuang Ming-yao.