Fukuda plays catch with Wen

Saturday, December 29, 2007

BEIJING — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda played a game of catch with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday, in what is perhaps a symbolic move on the warming of their countries' ties, a day after agreeing to build on recent improvements in relations.
Fukuda, dressed in a white baseball uniform and a red cap, threw and caught baseballs in a gymnasium at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Wen, also in a red cap and a gray baseball uniform. The event was squeezed into Fukuda's schedule after the Japanese prime minister made a request to Wen in a light moment during their talks on Friday. Wen, who wore a Ritsumeikan uniform during the game, arrived in the gymnasium first, and jogged for warm-up. The game between the two leaders — Fukuda is 71 years old, Wen is 65 — lasted about five minutes.

Fukuda opposes Taiwan referendum

Saturday, December 29, 2007

BEIJING — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda treaded carefully over the sensitive issue of Taiwan in his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday, withholding support for a March referendum by the self-ruled island, but stopping short of opposing it outright.
The comments by Fukuda on the plebiscite — which will ask voters whether they support Taipei's entry into the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" — came amid Beijing's strong opposition to it, which it views as a provocative assertion of sovereignty. "We do not wish tensions to increase in the cross-strait situation over the referendum," Fukuda told a press conference after his meeting with Wen. "I told Premier Wen that we cannot support this if it is to lead to a unilateral change in the current situation," he added.