President Tsai meets delegation led by Japanese LDP Diet member Satoshi Nakanishi
On the morning of August 28, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Mr. Satoshi Nakanishi, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member of the Japanese House of Councillors. The president spoke about the warm friendship between Taiwan and Japan, and expressed hope for more bilateral cooperation and exchanges to address extreme weather issues.
In remarks, President Tsai noted that Mr. Nakanishi's enthusiasm for Taiwan-Japan exchanges started with his time as chairman of the Kochi Prefectural Assembly and continues in his current tenure as a member of the House of Councillors. The friendship between Taiwan and Japan has always been very cordial, and many Japanese tourists love to visit Taiwan. Many articles about the unique character of places in Taiwan have appeared in Japanese magazines in recent years, benefitting tourism here. As president of Taiwan, she said, this is very heartwarming. Students from Japan often tour the Presidential Office Building during study trips to Taiwan, and we warmly welcome them, she added.
But just as Japanese like coming to Taiwan, said the president, travelers from Taiwan are also very fond of Japan. Indeed, Mr. Nakanishi's Kochi Prefecture is becoming increasingly well known in Taiwan as the home of the 19th-century revolutionary Ryoma Sakamoto, and for the renowned Shikoku Pilgrimage, a 1,200 kilometer circular pilgrimage that takes in 88 temples on Shikoku in southern Japan.
Commenting on Taiwan-Japan relations, President Tsai pointed out that Taiwan has long been friendly exchanges with localities throughout Japan. To date, over 110 sister city agreements have been signed between local authorities at all different levels of government in the two countries. Noting that the visiting delegation included Diet members from the prefectures of Hyogo, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Nara, the president said that these prefectures all have sister city ties with many cities in Taiwan, and are well known in Taiwan as excellent tourist destinations. At this very moment, she said, there are probably a lot of Taiwanese tourists traveling in those prefectures.
President Tsai then mentioned that China has increasingly stepped up its pressure on Taiwan in many ways, undermining the status quo and having a negative impact on peace and prosperity in East Asia. But Taiwan will not stop its efforts to maintain the status quo, nor will bow to pressure. She also called on her visitors to speak out for and lend their support to Taiwan.
The president further stated that, in addition to people-to-people friendship ties, Taiwan and Japan share strategic and security interests. Both countries are also supporters of freedom, democracy, and human rights. Given the recent changes to the regional security status quo, the president said she hopes for enhanced interactions and exchanges with Japan so that the two countries can address regional changes and challenges together.
Mentioning the severe thunderstorms that have hit Taiwan in recent days, President Tsai noted that western Japan had experienced something similar not long ago. The losses caused by extreme weather events are a problem that we must all face together, so she expressed hope for more cooperation and exchanges on this front. In closing, the president again welcomed the delegation members to Taiwan, and wished them a fruitful trip.
Also in the delegation were Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Mikio Numata and LDP House of Councillors members Katsumi Ogawa, Toshiyuki Adachi, Kentaro Asahi, Hanako Jimi, Kei Sato, Taichiro Motoe, and Shinya Fujiki.