China warns Japan on visa issue

Beijing - Japan's plan to issue entry visas for Rebiya Kadeer and the Dalai Lama for their respective visits in May and June will surely have a "negative impact" on bilateral ties as well as cast doubt on Premier Wen Jiabao's possible visit to the country next month, say observers.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to come to Japan on June 18 and participate in a service at a Buddhist temple in Nagano, and deliver speeches in Ishikawa and Kanagawa prefectures. Rebiya Kadeer, the alleged mastermind behind riots in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in early July 2009, plans to attend symposiums in Tokyo and Osaka after her May 20 arrival, Kyodo news said.

The two separatists will be visiting the country for the second time since the Democratic Party of Japan came to power. The Japan Times said their trips will signal the continuation of Japan's policy of accepting the two as visitors, but the administration is likely to emphasize "neither will be received as government guests".