On the afternoon of Could 5, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from Japan led by Home of Representatives Member and former Minister of Financial system, Commerce, and Trade Nishimura Yasutoshi. President Lai thanked the federal government of Japan for repeatedly talking up for Taiwan at worldwide venues and reiterating the significance of peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait. The president said that to deal with China’s gray-zone aggression towards neighboring international locations, Taiwan and Japan, each positioned within the first island chain, ought to strengthen cooperation and reply collectively. He stated he seems ahead to bilateral industrial cooperation in fields together with semiconductors, hydrogen power, AI, and drones, collectively strengthening the resilience of non-red provide chains, and selling mutual prosperity and growth.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I want to welcome all of the members of the Japanese Eating regimen who’re utilizing their worthwhile Golden Week trip to go to Taiwan, particularly Home of Representatives Member Nishimura Yasutoshi, whom former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deeply trusted and relied on, and who for a few years held essential cupboard positions. That is his first go to after a hiatus of 17 years, so I’m certain he’ll sense Taiwan’s progress and growth. Home of Representatives Member Tanaka Kazunori has lengthy promoted native exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, and I hope that our guests will all achieve a deeper understanding of Taiwan by this go to.
Yesterday, a number of of our distinguished visitors made a particular journey to Kaohsiung to pay their respects on the statue of former Prime Minister Abe, a visionary politician with a broad, worldwide perspective. The previous prime minister pioneered the imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and as soon as stated that “if Taiwan has an issue, then Japan has an issue,” demonstrating robust assist for Taiwan and making a deep and lasting impression on the hearts of Taiwanese.
Over the previous few years, China has repeatedly performed navy workout routines within the Taiwan Strait, East and South China Seas, and carried out acts of gray-zone aggression towards neighboring international locations, severely undermining regional peace and stability. Taiwan and Japan, each positioned within the first island chain, ought to strengthen cooperation and reply collectively.
Particularly since Taiwan and Japan are democratic companions who share values akin to freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, if we are able to strengthen cooperation in areas akin to maritime safety, social resilience, and addressing gray-zone aggression, I’m assured we are able to reveal the energy of deterrence, guarantee peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific area, and safeguard our cherished democratic establishments.
I want to take this chance to thank the Japanese authorities for repeatedly talking up for Taiwan at worldwide venues, together with this 12 months’s US-Japan leaders’ summit, the G7 overseas ministers’ joint assertion, and the Japan-NATO bilateral assembly, reiterating the significance of peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait and expressing opposition to unilaterally altering the established order by pressure or coercion.
Within the face of worldwide financial and commerce adjustments, financial safety is changing into more and more essential, and Taiwan seems ahead to additional deepening financial cooperation with Japan. Along with actively looking for to take part within the Complete and Progressive Settlement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Taiwan hopes to signal an financial partnership settlement (EPA) with Japan as quickly as potential. This can increase our cooperation in industries akin to semiconductors, hydrogen power, AI, and drones, set up a better financial partnership, collectively strengthen the resilience of non-red provide chains, and promote mutual prosperity and growth.
As soon as once more, I welcome all of our visitors. I’m deeply grateful to your taking concrete motion to deepen Taiwan-Japan relations and present assist for Taiwan. I want you a profitable and rewarding go to.
Consultant Nishimura then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for taking outing of his busy schedule to satisfy with the visiting delegation. He additionally expressed admiration for the efficiency of President Lai’s authorities, which has allowed Taiwan to develop easily amidst the present advanced worldwide scenario.
Consultant Nishimura talked about that when former Prime Minister Abe sadly handed away in 2020, President Lai, who was vice chairman on the time, personally visited the previous prime minister’s residence to supply his condolences. The consultant stated that together with that assembly, as we speak is the second time he and President Lai have met. This delegation’s go to to Taiwan, he stated, carries on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. He stated that Taiwan and Japan are international locations that share common values and have shut ties by way of financial cooperation and mutual visits. Notably, he highlighted, in 2024, enterprise vacationers from Taiwan remodeled six million visits to Japan, and primarily based on inhabitants, Taiwan has the best share of holiday makers to Japan. He additionally expressed hope that extra Japanese individuals will go to Taiwan for tourism.
Consultant Nishimura said that the delegation visited Kaohsiung yesterday to pay their respects on the statue of former Prime Minister Abe. Then, he stated, they traveled to Tainan to pattern all kinds of fruits and native delicacies, throughout which era additionally they mentioned the Wushantou Reservoir, constructed by Japanese engineer Hatta Yoichi. Since Could 8 is the anniversary of Mr. Hatta’s start, Consultant Nishimura stated he hopes to make use of this chance to proceed Mr. Hatta’s concern and love for Taiwan, and additional deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
Consultant Nishimura stated that when he served as Japan’s Minister of Financial system, Commerce, and Trade, he welcomed Taiwan’s utility to hitch the CPTPP on behalf of the Japanese authorities. He additionally stated that his authorities has additionally offered substantial help for the institution of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm’s (TSMC) fab in Kumamoto, Japan. He stated he believes that mutual cooperation between Taiwan and Japan within the semiconductor sector can additional promote semiconductor trade growth, and construct a extra resilient provide chain system.
Consultant Nishimura identified that former Prime Minister Abe as soon as stated, “If Taiwan has an issue, then Japan has an issue.” At present, many European international locations are additionally very involved about peace and stability within the Asia-Pacific area, as a result of it’s essential to peace and stability in the whole worldwide group. It might probably due to this fact be stated that “if Taiwan has an issue, the world has an issue.” He stated he believes that to be able to preserve peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait, like-minded international locations and allied nations should all cooperate carefully and definitively proclaim that message. He then stated he seems ahead to exchanging views with President Lai on points akin to strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations and adjustments within the worldwide scenario.
The delegation additionally included Chairman of Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Affiliation Matsumoto Jun, Japanese Home of Representatives members Nishime Kosaburo, Sasaki Hajime, Yana Kazuo, and Katou Ryusho, and Japan-Taiwan Alternate Affiliation Taipei Workplace Chief Consultant Katayama Kazuyuki.
