A Chinese rights activists said Thursday he had been stuck in limbo at a Tokyo airport for nine days after his country's communist government denied him the right to return home.

In a situation reminiscent of the stateless man portrayed in the movie "The Terminal," Feng Zhenghu has been camped out on a couch near the immigration checkpoint at Narita International Airport since November 4.

"I've been here for nine days, eight nights. I have not had a lot to eat or drink," he told AFP on Thursday at Narita's Terminal 1.

"I have a Chinese passport that is valid for three more years. I have a valid visa for Japan, but I do not want to stay in Japan. I want to go home."

London-based human rights group Amnesty International lists Feng Zhenghu as a prominent activist who has been jailed in the past.

He told AFP, speaking in Chinese, that, after a stay of several months in Japan this year, he had tried to go back to China eight times.

"Four times I was turned back by Shanghai authorities at the Pudong airport. They did not let me into the country," he said.

"The other four times, Japanese airlines refused to allow me onto the aeroplane. I strongly protest these actions. According to the UN (charter), no nation has the right to refuse the citizenship of its nation."

Despite his ordeal, Feng looked well-kempt and clean shaven, but speaking in broken Japanese, he said, "My stomach has become small."