President Chen Shui-bian on December 28 stressed that Taiwan and Japan enjoy valuable economic and security partnerships. As a result, Taiwan is happy to see that Japan will continue to promote its own version of a "Taiwan Relations Act." He said that the legislation being formulated in Japan will serve as a basis for Japan in its dealings with Taiwan, just like the American "Taiwan Relations Act," by which the United States abides.
President Chen made the remarks when receiving a visiting delegation led by Sakai Masafumi. Also accompanying the delegation on its visit to meet President Chen was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chang Siao-yue and Luo Fu-chuan, president of the East Asia Relations Commission.
First, President Chen welcomed the Japanese delegation to Taiwan on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan. The president said that over the past decade and more, the Japan-Taiwan Relations Research Society has made enormous contributions in promoting friendly and substantive cooperative relations between the two countries. He especially pointed out the initiatives carried out by the first head of the society, Principal Asano Ichiro, as well as the first blueprint of a Japanese version of a "Taiwan Relations Act" created by Professor Asano Ichiro. President Chen said that given the level of friendship and relationship that exists between Taiwan and Japan, there is no reason that Japan should not have a "Taiwan Relations Act." As a result, he said he hopes Japan will continue to push through its own version of such legislation.
President Chen added that Japan and Taiwan have a valuable partnership as allies, noting that peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific region is in the mutual interest of Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. The president said, the Japanese and American governments have formally included peace in the Taiwan Strait as a common strategic objective. Both have also expressed their concern about the Anti-separation Law" passed by China and the legal basis that it provides for military action against Taiwan. President Chen also expressed his appreciation that Japan and the United States have expressed opposition to a proposal made by members of the European Union to lift a ban on arms sales to China.
President Chen said the Taiwan government is also interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and expressed concern about North Korea's firing of missiles in the Sea of Japan in July and a nuclear test by Pyongyang on October 9. He said Taiwan stands with the United States and Japan on the issue.