Editing Lee Teng-hui (section)

=== Relations with Japan ===
Lee enjoyed a warm relationship with the [[Japanese people|people]] and [[culture of Japan]]. During the latter period of [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese rule of Taiwan]] from 1895 to 1945, Lee attended a Japanese school where he was one of only four Taiwanese in a class of 23 pupils. At the time, due to the [[Kōminka movement (Taiwan)|Kominka]] movement, Taiwanese Han culture and language was greatly discouraged. Lee's father was a middle-level Japanese police aide; his elder brother died serving in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] in [[World War II]] and is listed in the [[Yasukuni Shrine]] in Tokyo. During his youth, Lee had a Japanese name, {{jp||岩里政男|Iwasato Masao}}.<ref>{{cite news|author=Han Cheung|title=From Lee to Iwasato back to Lee|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2016/02/07/2003639001|access-date=8 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=7 February 2016|archive-date=7 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207090636/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2016/02/07/2003639001|url-status=live}}</ref> This name was suggested by Lee Teng-chin, combining [[Longyan]] ({{lang|zh-hant|龍岩}}), where their family originated, and their surname Lee ({{lang|zh-hant|李}}), which shares the same pronunciation with the character "{{lang|zh-hant|里}}" in both Japanese ''[[on'yomi]]'' and Chinese.<ref>{{cite news|author=Yang Shumei|title=李登輝1923-2020》警察之子，曾以日本兵身分參與二戰|url=https://www.storm.mg/article/2794246|access-date=4 November 2022|work=The Storm Media|date=30 July 2020|language=zh|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801031707/https://www.storm.mg/article/2794246|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee spoke fondly of his upbringing and his teachers and was welcomed in visits to Japan since leaving office. Lee [[Japanophilia|admired and enjoyed all things Japanese]] such as traditional Japanese values.<ref name="teng-hui">{{cite web |title=Tokyo governor tearful when paying respects to late Taiwan president |publisher=Taiwan News |author=Huang Tzu-ti |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3981828 |date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810060755/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3981828 |archive-date=10 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="beyond"/> This was the target of criticism from the [[Pan-Blue Coalition]]<ref name="beyond">{{cite news|author1=Takefumi Hayata|title=Japanese must look beyond Lee Teng-hui|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2001/05/28/0000087621|access-date=7 September 2014|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=28 May 2001|archive-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908063004/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2001/05/28/0000087621|url-status=live}}</ref> in Taiwan, as well as from China,<ref name=ATKastner>{{cite news|last1=Kastner|first1=Jens|title=Lee charges stir Taiwan|url=http://atimes.com/atimes/China/MG13Ad01.html|access-date=7 September 2014|work=Asia Times|date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221344/http://atimes.com/atimes/China/MG13Ad01.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=unfit}}</ref> due to the [[Anti-Japanese sentiment in China|anti-Japanese sentiment]] formed during and after World War II. However, this animosity fell in later years, especially in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thim|first1=Michal|last2=Matsuoka|first2=Misato|title=The Odd Couple: Japan & Taiwan's Unlikely Friendship|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/the-odd-couple-japan-taiwans-unlikely-friendship/|access-date=13 July 2015|work=The Diplomat|date=15 May 2014|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713220926/http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/the-odd-couple-japan-taiwans-unlikely-friendship/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Tsai|first1=Vivian|title=Taiwan And Japan: Two Nations With Long History Stuck In Limbo|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/taiwan-japan-two-nations-long-history-stuck-limbo-746532|access-date=13 July 2015|work=International Business Times|date=14 August 2012|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713231220/http://www.ibtimes.com/taiwan-japan-two-nations-long-history-stuck-limbo-746532|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1989, he received the highest distinction of the [[Scout Association of Japan]], the [[Golden Pheasant Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040356/http://reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2016 }}</ref>

In August 2001, Lee said of Japanese Prime Minister [[Junichiro Koizumi]]'s controversial visit to [[Yasukuni Shrine]], "It is natural for a premier of a country to commemorate the souls of people who lost their lives for their country."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Taiwan leader Lee backs Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni|work=Japan Times|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20051017a1.html}}</ref> In a May 2007 trip to Japan, Lee visited the shrine himself to pay tribute to his elder brother. Controversy rose because the shrine also enshrines World War II Class A criminals among the other soldiers.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/front/111039.htm Lee to visit Japan's Yasukuni war shrine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121014938/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/front/111039.htm |date=21 January 2021 }} ''The [[China Post]]'' 31 May 2007.</ref>

During the [[2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations]], on 13 September 2012, Lee remarked, "The [[Senkaku Islands]], no matter whether in the past, for now or in the future, certainly belong to Japan."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tiezzi|first1=Shannon|title=Taiwan's Former President Causes Controversy in Japan|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/07/taiwans-former-president-causes-controversy-in-japan/|access-date=31 July 2015|work=The Diplomat|date=30 July 2015|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801011109/http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/taiwans-former-president-causes-controversy-in-japan/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lee Teng-hui: Diaoyutais have always been Japan's|url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120914000015&cid=1101|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150706052236/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120914000015&cid=1101|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2015|access-date=31 July 2015|work=Want China Times|date=14 September 2012}}</ref> Ten years previously, he had stated, "The Senkaku Islands are the territory of Japan."<ref name=mofj20020927>{{cite web | title=Press Conference 27 September 2002 | date=24 August 2012 | access-date=4 October 2012 | url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2002/9/0927.html | publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]] | archive-date=21 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121014653/http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2002/9/0927.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2014, Lee expressed support for a Japanese equivalent to the United States' [[Taiwan Relations Act]],<ref>{{cite news|title=China refutes Japanese version of Taiwan Relations Act|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/24/c_133668945.htm|access-date=13 July 2015|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=24 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403173552/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/24/c_133668945.htm|archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> which was discussed in the [[National Diet|Japanese Diet]] in February,<ref>{{cite news|title=Japanese lawmakers' version of the Taiwan Relations Act|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/taiwan-issues/2014/02/27/401521/Japanese-lawmakers.htm|access-date=13 July 2015|work=China Post|date=27 February 2014|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713223047/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/taiwan-issues/2014/02/27/401521/Japanese-lawmakers.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Tiezzi|first1=Shannon|title=To Counter Beijing, Japan Moves Closer to Taiwan|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/02/to-counter-beijing-japan-moves-closer-to-taiwan/|work=The Diplomat|date=20 February 2014|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=19 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219121510/https://thediplomat.com/2014/02/to-counter-beijing-japan-moves-closer-to-taiwan/|url-status=live}}</ref> though the idea was first proposed by [[Chen Shui-bian]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Chen urges Japanese 'Taiwan relations act'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/10/31/2003334112|access-date=13 July 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=31 October 2006|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713230425/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/10/31/2003334112|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Lee said in the Japanese magazine ''SAPIO'' published by [[Shogakukan]], "China spreads lies such as [[Nanjing Massacre]] to the world&nbsp;... Korea and China use invented history as their activity of propaganda for their country. [[Comfort women]] is the most remarkable example."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20140127_236180.html |script-title=ja:李登輝氏 ホラ話を広め軋轢を生む中国はリーダーになれない |website=news-postseven.com |date=27 January 2014 |language=ja |access-date=12 May 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817162912/http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20140127_236180.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, Lee said "The issue of Taiwanese comfort women is already solved" in the Japanese magazine ''Voice'' (published by PHP Institute). He was strongly criticized by [[Chen I-hsin]], spokesman of the [[Presidential Office Building (Republic of China)|Presidential Office]] as "not ignorant but cold-blooded". Chen added, "If Lee Teng-hui really thinks the issue of comfort women is solved, go to a theater and see ''Song of the Reed''."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1418700 |script-title=zh:慰安婦問題已解決？ 總統府批李登輝無知、冷血 |publisher=Liberty Times Net |date=20 August 2015 |language=zh-tw |access-date=12 May 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817163446/http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1418700 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:蔡英文總統與前總統李登輝握手致意.jpg|thumb|Lee meeting Taiwanese President [[Tsai Ing-wen]] in 2016]]

In July 2015, Lee visited Japan, and again stated that Japan has full sovereignty over the [[Senkaku Islands]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hou|first1=Elaine|title=Lee's remarks on Diaoyutais 'unacceptable': presidential spokesman|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201507270012.aspx|access-date=27 July 2015|agency=Central News Agency|date=24 July 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910205350/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201507270012.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=H.K.|last2=Lin|first2=Lillian|title=KMT chairman reaffirms Taiwan's sovereignty over Diaoyutais|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201507250010.aspx?q=lee%20teng%20hui|access-date=27 July 2015|agency=Central News Agency|date=25 July 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050404/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201507250010.aspx?q=lee%20teng%20hui|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first time Lee made remarks of this nature while in Japan. Members of the pan-Blue [[New Party (Taiwan)|New Party]] and Kuomintang accused him of treason. New Party leader [[Yok Mu-ming]] filed charges of treason against Lee,<ref>{{cite news|author=Shih Hsiu-chuan|title=New Party files charges against Lee|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/28/2003624070|access-date=28 July 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=28 July 2015|archive-date=30 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730014946/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/28/2003624070|url-status=live}}</ref> while the KMT's [[Lai Shyh-bao]] called a caucus meeting to seek revisions to the Act Governing Preferential Treatment for Retired Presidents and Vice Presidents, aimed at denying Lee privileges as a former president.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tai|first1=Ya-chen|last2=Liu|first2=Shi-yi|last3=Tung|first3=Ning|last4=Chao|first4=Ken|title=KMT lawmakers threaten reprisal over Lee's Diayoutai comment|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201507270012.aspx|access-date=27 July 2015|agency=Central News Agency|date=27 July 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910205350/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201507270012.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lee also stated, in 2015, that Taiwanese people were "subjects of Japan" and that Taiwan and Japan were "one country", sparking much criticism from both China and the Pan-Blue Coalition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shanghaiist.com/2015/08/23/former_taiwan_prez_calls_japan_motherland/|title=Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui refers to Japan as 'the motherland,' infuriates both sides of the strait|date=23 August 2015|access-date=20 September 2020|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921015417/http://shanghaiist.com/2015/08/23/former_taiwan_prez_calls_japan_motherland/|url-status=live}}</ref>  In response to media requests for comment, then presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen said that “each generation and [[Demographics of Taiwan|ethnic group in Taiwan]] has lived a different history,” and that people should approach these differing experiences and interpretations with an attitude of understanding that will allow for learning from history, rather than allowing it to be used a tool for manipulating divisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/08/23/2003625969|title=DPP's Tsai calls for end to muckraking over histories – Taipei Times|date=23 August 2015|website=www.taipeitimes.com|access-date=20 September 2020|archive-date=19 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219120523/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/08/23/2003625969|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lee published a book, ''Remaining Life: My Life Journey and the Road of Taiwan's Democracy'', in February 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lu|first1=Hsin-hui|last2=Chang|first2=S. C.|title=Former president calls for changing ROC into new republic|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201602160026.aspx|access-date=16 February 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217092348/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201602160026.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Yu-fu|last2=Chung|first2=Jake|title=Lee Teng-hui book redefines 'status quo'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/02/17/2003639546|access-date=17 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217014910/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/02/17/2003639546|url-status=live}}</ref> In it, he reasserted support for Japanese sovereignty claims over the Senkaku Islands, drawing complaints from the ROC Presidential Office,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hsieh|first1=Chia-chen|last2=Kao|first2=Evelyn|title=Presidential Office reaffirms ROC sovereignty over Diaoyutais|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170009.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|access-date=18 February 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308082453/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170009.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Stacy|title=Presidential Office blasts Lee over Diaoyutais claim|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/18/2003639638|access-date=18 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=18 February 2016|archive-date=18 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218072843/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/18/2003639638|url-status=live}}</ref> President-elect [[Tsai Ing-wen]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yeh|first1=Sophia|last2=Chen|first2=Christie|title=Tsai refutes ex-president's controversial remarks on Diaoyutais|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170008.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|access-date=18 February 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308082243/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170008.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Yilan County, Taiwan|Yilan County]] fishermen.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chao-yu|last2=Wang|first2=Cheng-chung|last3=Kao|first3=Evelyn|title=Ex-president's Diaoyutis remarks draw ire of fishermen|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170020.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|access-date=18 February 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308082128/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201602170020.aspx?q=Lee%20teng%20hui|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 22 June 2018, he visited Japan for the final time in his life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3464910|title=Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui slams China at Japan event|last=Strong|first=Matthew|website=Taiwan News|date=23 June 2018|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624150308/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3464910|url-status=live}}</ref>