Japan asks Taiwan to label its pavilion at world expo as privately operated

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Japan has asked Taiwan to explicitly state that its pavilion at the upcoming World Exposition in Osaka is run by a private firm, local media reported Monday.

Japan's Foreign Ministry is believed to have made the request after determining that a statement by the Taiwanese government suggested the pavilion would be an official exhibit, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported, citing sources familiar with the development.

Japan does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on whether it made such a request, while Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said it hoped that the expo will lead to a deepening of ties between Japan and Taiwan.

Referring to the Taiwan pavilion, China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that it "opposes any kind of official interactions" between Taiwan and any country with diplomatic ties with Beijing.

China considers Taiwan its "breakaway" province, while the latter, which has been governed separately since 1949, insists on its independence.