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On the morning of March 16, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Japanese House of Representatives Member and Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council Chairman Furuya Keiji. In remarks, President Lai thanked Chairman Furuya for leading the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council these many years, over which time it has continually promoted Taiwan-Japan parliamentary exchanges, and for speaking out in support of Taiwan on numerous issues of importance, demonstrating firm support for Taiwan. The president said that in the face of expanding authoritarian power, Taiwan is strengthening its self-defense capabilities and is deepening its cooperation with Japan in key industries so that we can build secure and reliable supply chains and improve regional economic security and industrial resilience.
A translation of President Lai's remarks follows:
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Chairman Furuya, who is visiting us once again. Earlier today, Chairman Furuya and I together attended the opening of the 2026 Yushan Forum. I want to thank Chairman Furuya for demonstrating through his actions the Japanese Diet's high regard and support for Taiwan, and for delivering a very impressive speech at the forum.
I am especially thankful to Chairman Furuya for leading the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council these many years, over which time it has continually promoted Taiwan-Japan parliamentary exchanges, and for actively speaking out in support of Taiwan on numerous issues of importance. Chairman Furuya has always been a steadfast and important friend of Taiwan on the international stage. The people of Taiwan will long remember his contributions to Taiwan-Japan relations and regional peace and stability.
In recent years, China has persistently engaged in authoritarian expansion, not only putting pressure on Taiwan but also posing a severe challenge to regional peace and stability. I would especially like to thank the Japanese government and the Diet, under Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's leadership, for repeatedly reaffirming at international venues the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. In so doing, they have demonstrated their firm support for regional peace and democratic values.
In the face of expanding authoritarian power, the government has proposed an eight-year, US$40 billion special defense budget to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. We hope to deepen cooperation with Japan and other democratic partners so that together we can defend a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan and Japan's industries are highly complementary, and we are important trading partners. In particular, we have reached major milestones in recent years through cooperation in the semiconductor industry. We hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to deepen our partnership in key strategic fields such as AI, cybersecurity, and energy, so that we can work together to build secure and reliable supply chains and improve regional economic security and industrial resilience.
Last year, reciprocal visits between the people of Taiwan and Japan exceeded 8 million. As we deepen Taiwan-Japan relations, I hope we can push that number beyond 10 million. Let me close by once again offering a warm welcome to Chairman Furuya, whose visits are strengthening the friendship between our two nations. I look forward to our continued close cooperation and wish him a pleasant and productive visit.
Chairman Furuya then delivered remarks, mentioning that he was meeting with President Lai again after attending the National Day celebrations in October last year. Today, he said, it was an honor for him to attend the Yushan Forum and hear President Lai's impressive speech. Noting that five days ago was the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, the chairman sincerely thanked President Lai for his thoughtful memorial message.
Chairman Furuya pointed out that President Lai and Prime Minister Takaichi have both talked about taking on challenges, expanding investment, building a resilient economy, and strengthening diplomacy, showing a high degree of alignment in the policy directions of the two leaders. He stated his belief that the two leaders can work together to move the region in a better direction. He also pointed to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's investments in Japan as a symbol of a new phase in Taiwan-Japan economic cooperation. He added that they will continue to deepen cooperation in such fields as next-generation industries, the green energy industry, economic and energy security, and supply chain strengthening, all of which will help to enhance the economic resilience of Taiwan and Japan.
Chairman Furuya mentioned that there are currently about 70,000 Taiwanese people living in Japan, and that last year Japan began allowing members of the Taiwanese overseas community in Japan included in the country's family registry system to list “Taiwan” in the field designating their nationality or region of origin. The chairman noted that this measure has been warmly welcomed by Taiwanese people living in Japan, adding that it symbolizes Japan's respect for the Taiwanese identity and helps safeguard the human rights and dignity of Taiwanese people.
Chairman Furuya said that year by year China is intensifying its pressure on Taiwan. He also said that after Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks on a Taiwan contingency, China reacted with a strong backlash and increased its pressure on Japan. He stated that the prime minister's remarks maintain the Japanese government's previous position and are not problematic, and thus Japan has no reason to make any concessions. By comparison, he emphasized, Taiwan returned to normal management of Japanese food products. He once again expressed their respect for Taiwan's warmhearted goodwill in making this decision.
Chairman Furuya said that we face an increasingly severe situation in the Taiwan Strait, and that in order to prevent a Taiwan contingency from occurring, Japan will steadily strengthen its cooperation with countries that share common values to safeguard Taiwan and its democracy and jointly maintain the peace and security of the Taiwan Strait.
Earlier that day at the Yushan Forum, Chairman Furuya had made a suggestion for cultural exchange between military bands from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Taiwanese military, and the United States military, adding that they would work together to realize a cultural exchange that would be a symbol of peace and friendship. He emphasized that it is our responsibility to create the future and hope, and that Japan will boldly take on this challenge together with Taiwan and deepen cooperation.
