On October 10, President Lai Ching-te hosted a luncheon for a delegation from the Japanese Diet visiting to take part in the 2025 National Day Celebration of the Republic of China (Taiwan). In remarks at the event, President Lai thanked members of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council for the deep friendship built up between Taiwan and Japan, which is an important driving force for improving bilateral relations. The president also thanked the Japanese government for emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait on many occasions at important international venues. He expressed hope that good friends on the council continue to deepen bilateral cooperation and take Taiwan-Japan friendship to a new level.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
First, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the members of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council. At a time when the Japanese government is undergoing a high-level reorganization, the council has overcome all obstacles to once again organize a large, cross-party delegation to visit Taiwan and participate in our National Day celebration. We are honored and touched by the sincere friendship the members have shown Taiwan.
When Typhoon Ragasa inflicted heavy losses on Hualien last month, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Furuya Keiji, and other friends from Japan immediately conveyed their heartfelt concern for those affected by the disaster, and I would like to express my deepest thanks on behalf of the people of Taiwan. For over half a century, the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council has been a strong bridge of friendship between Taiwan and Japan. Under Chairman Furuya’s leadership, members of the council have long spoken out for Taiwan in the Japanese Diet and shown key leadership capabilities in promoting Taiwan-Japan relations through deeper exchanges in various fields. In addition to thanking all of the members once again for supporting Taiwan, I also hope that through our joint efforts, we can consolidate the Taiwan-Japan relationship.
Taiwan and Japan exemplify the adage that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” We have supported each other when disasters struck, and as an interdependent community with a shared destiny, we have jointly faced geopolitical challenges. I therefore want to thank the Japanese government for emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait on many occasions at important international venues, receiving support from like-minded countries, including this year’s US-Japan summit, G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, bilateral talks between Japan and the NATO Secretary-General, and Japan-EU summit. These events all show that the international community has already reached a high level of consensus regarding maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposing unilateral changes to the status quo.
The deep friendship between Taiwan and Japan built up by the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council is an important driving force for improving bilateral relations. I look forward to our good friends on the council continuing to deepen bilateral cooperation, and taking Taiwan-Japan friendship to a new level. Lastly, I want to thank Chairman Furuya for organizing a large celebratory delegation to Taiwan every year, this year included, and for returning to Japan immediately after the event to address political developments, which is truly admirable.
House of Representatives Member Sasaki Hajime then delivered remarks on behalf of Chairman Furuya, first congratulating Taiwan on National Day and saying he was honored to come to Taiwan again to participate in National Day celebrations and attend a banquet hosted by our president and vice president. He said he was deeply impressed by President Lai’s earlier remarks in his National Day address regarding ways to deepen democracy, maintain economic growth, and strengthen the nation, and also expressed wholehearted support for the president’s approach in “maintaining peace through strength” and appeal to citizens for unity.
On behalf of the council, Representative Sasaki expressed his deepest condolences for the disaster victims of Typhoon Ragasa in Hualien, and House of Representatives Member Kaneko Yasushi, the delegation’s deputy leader, presented a list of disaster relief donors to President Lai. Representative Sasaki continued, saying that buoy equipment is expected to arrive from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on October 17 in Taiwan, where it will be used for monitoring water levels in reservoirs, demonstrating Japan’s support for disaster prevention cooperation with Taiwan.
Representative Sasaki mentioned that the council has six internal research groups that actively conduct various activities to promote Taiwan-Japan relations, and that there are several female members of the Diet visiting Taiwan on this trip for exchanges. He mentioned that the council also previously promoted an amendment to Japanese law that, since May, has allowed Taiwanese spouses to designate their nationality as “Taiwan” in Japan’s family registry system, demonstrating Japan’s respect for and acknowledgement of Taiwan. He went on to say that the council will continue to promote multi-level exchanges involving local governments and legislative bodies, as well as educational trips for middle school students, to increase mutual visits and understanding for people from both countries. In addition, he said, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership research group will continue to promote economic cooperation. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s establishment of a fab in Kumamoto, he said, symbolizes that Taiwan-Japan economic cooperation has entered a new era, and he added that we can further deepen our partnership in areas such as economic security, energy, and the strengthening of supply chains.
Representative Sasaki stated that on this trip to Taiwan, the council’s representative delegation also exchanged views on issues such as countering disinformation, media literacy, and fact-checking. Last week’s Taiwan-Japan Economic Partnership Committee meeting, he said, also made progress on issues such as digital trade, disaster prevention, and e-commerce. In terms of cultural exchanges, Representative Sasaki noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Palace Museum and said that Chairman Furuya will present the museum with Mino ware works from his hometown.
Representative Sasaki emphasized that Japan is well aware that Taiwan is facing pressure and threats from China, making Taiwan’s external environment increasingly fraught, and that we cannot allow “Taiwan to have a problem.” He stated that Japan will work closely with democratic partners in Taiwan, the United States, Australia, and Europe to jointly safeguard universal values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Representative Sasaki closed his remarks by wishing Taiwan prosperity and good fortune and expressing hope that friendly exchanges between Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen.
Also in attendance were Japanese House of Representatives Member Komiyama Yasuko, House of Representatives Member Azuma Toru, House of Representatives Member Nishime Kosaburo, House of Councillors Member Kitamura Tsuneo, House of Representatives Member Fukushima Nobuyuki, House of Representatives Member Nagasaka Yasumasa, House of Representatives Member Kokuba Konosuke, House of Representatives Member Hiranuma Shojiro, House of Representatives Member Watanabe Shu, House of Councillors Member Ejima Kiyoshi, House of Councillors Member Aoyama Shigeharu, House of Councillors Member Matsukawa Rui, House of Representatives Member Kitagami Keiro, House of Representatives Member Oonishi Kensuke, House of Representatives Member Shinohara Go, House of Councillors Member Shiomura Ayaka, House of Representatives Member Fujimaki Kenta, House of Representatives Member Shimada Tomoaki, House of Representatives Member Nishioka Yoshitaka, House of Representatives Member Takahashi Hideaki, House of Representatives Member Kishida Mitsuhiro, House of Representatives Member Yoshikawa Rina, House of Councillors Member Harada Hidekazu, and House of Councillors Member Yamanaka Sen.
AloJapan.com