Taiwan activists who planned to blow up the lighthouse built on the islands by Japanese right-wingers yesterday failed to win support from legislators and government officials. Tong Nien-tai, organiser of the so-called 'death squad', yesterday went to the Legislative Yuan to seek support from legislator Lo Fu-chu. Mr Tong, who said he had signed up 12 ex-convicts to travel to the islands, wanted Mr Lo to be their 'team leader'. He thought Mr Lo would be suitable because he was known for his connections with the underworld. However, Mr Lo did not receive Mr Tong and his assistant turned down Mr Tong's request. Mr Tong also asked government officials including Vice-President Lien Chan and Justice Minister Liao Cheng-hao for help. He said the Government would show its 'determination to safeguard the islands' if it was to support him. Mr Tong said he would start his mission tomorrow - the anniversary of Japan's 1931 invasion of northern China - and vowed that the squad had 'no fear' of Japanese patrol guards guarding the isles. 'We are not frightened of fighting them,' he said. Meanwhile, opposition party politician Stella Chen was said to have organised a major protest by 100 fishing boats this weekend to the islands. Despite Mr Tong's high-profile activities, Ms Chen's campaign and a few other minor protests, there has been less interest in Taiwan's political circles over the islands than in Hong Kong.
