Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council Chairman Keiji Furuya on the afternoon of December 14. The president exchanged views with the delegation on Taiwan-Japan ties in the wake of Taiwan's recent elections, and expressed hope that the Consultative Council will continue to enhance bilateral relations and support Taiwan on the international stage.

In remarks, President Tsai stated that Chairman Furuya is an important friend to Taiwan, and she trusts that the chairman and other friends at the Consultative Council are concerned about the results of Taiwan's recent elections and referendums. She also said she hoped to exchange views with Chairman Furuya regarding Taiwan-Japan relations in the wake of the elections.

President Tsai pointed out that Taiwan's local election results were disappointing for the Democratic Progressive Party, but her party is conducting a critical review of itself, and will make adjustments to domestic policy going forward. Taiwan's diplomacy and foreign relations were not a key issue leading up to the elections, she said.

Noting the referendum regarding Taiwan's continued restrictions on food product imports from the area in Fukushima Prefecture affected by the 2011 nuclear disaster, the president expressed hope that the results will not affect the close cooperative ties between Taiwan and Japan. In the future, she said, Taiwan's government will continue to engage in a wide range of cooperative initiatives with Japan.

In closing, President Tsai again welcomed Chairman Furuya to Taiwan and expressed hope that he will lead the Consultative Council in a continued effort to enhance Taiwan-Japan relations and support Taiwan on the international stage.

Chairman Furuya followed with remarks of his own, extending condolences for all those killed or injured in last month's Puyuma express train derailment. The train in question was built in Japan, so he worked together with officials from Japan's Railway Bureau to send experts to Taiwan as quickly as possible to help with the response to the incident. Just a week before, he noted, Japan's Railway Bureau and the Taiwan Railways Administration exchanged views on the cause of the accident, and he is confident that the bureau will provide all possible assistance to prevent further such accidents.

Included among those in the visiting delegation was Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Mikio Numata.