Japan says it will go ahead and issue entry visas to those attending the World Uyghur Congress next month.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman told Voice of America's Mandarin Service that the issuance of visas to congress participants would take place, although China officially opposes the move.
Japanese media reported China had demanded that Tokyo not allow the Uyghur gathering to take place in Japan, noting that the group is engaged in activities designed to harm China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Japan's Uyghur Association says it expects some 100 exiled Uyghurs, including World Uyghur Congress President Rebiya Kadeer, to attend the congress.
Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, told VOA the group selected Japan for the conference because Tokyo has been sympathetic to the Uyghur cause.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman told Voice of America's Mandarin Service that the issuance of visas to congress participants would take place, although China officially opposes the move.
Japanese media reported China had demanded that Tokyo not allow the Uyghur gathering to take place in Japan, noting that the group is engaged in activities designed to harm China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Japan's Uyghur Association says it expects some 100 exiled Uyghurs, including World Uyghur Congress President Rebiya Kadeer, to attend the congress.
Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, told VOA the group selected Japan for the conference because Tokyo has been sympathetic to the Uyghur cause.
