Taiwan's sovereignty should be dictated by history, not by the United Nations or by any other country, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said Wednesday. Ishihara, who was visiting Taiwan, made the remarks while commenting on U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent remarks that Taiwan is not independent and does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation.

Ishihara said that he opposes Powell's remarks and that Powell made a mistake by saying what he did. He also reminded the United States to remember what happened in Tibet and the cruelty demonstrated by the Chinese military during China's invasion decades ago.

China may split into various parts in years to come given that it is facing serious economic problems with a great gap between the rich and the poor, Ishihara warned. At the invitation of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) , Ishihara was in Taiwan to attend the launch of the TRA's new tourist train, the "Formosa Star," which made its maiden journey Tuesday down the east coast of Taiwan.

Source: CNA News