KEY INTERACTIONS:
The Japan lawmaker met with Hou You-yi and Ko Wen-je, while VP William Lai spoke at a banquet for the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council
By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
Taiwan and Japan are a community of common destiny, Japanese Representative Keiji Furuya said in Taipei yesterday, as he called on like-minded allies to unite to prevent a conflict across the Taiwan Strait.
Furuya, chair of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, is leading a delegation of 43 council members to participate in today’s Double Ten National Day celebrations.
He reiterated the message at separate meetings yesterday with New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Leading the largest-ever Japanese parliamentary delegation to Taiwan is a display of friendship through concrete action, Furuya said during his meeting with Hou.
Members of the delegation are to join lawmakers from other countries in the National Day parade, calling on the world to pay attention to the importance of security across the Taiwan Strait, he said.
As Japan has no formal diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, the council has played a crucial role in Taiwan-Japan exchanges for the past 50 years, Furuya said.
Japan has an inseparable relationship with Taiwan, he said, citing examples such as Japan bringing Penglai rice to Taiwan 100 years ago and donating vaccines to the nation, as well as Taiwan donating masks to Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding January’s presidential election, Furuya said that he would continue to follow its developments and he hoped that Hou would share his political views and Taiwan’s democracy with the world.
Hou said that if elected, he would be a “peace promoter and risk reducer” to ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait, as it would give Japan peace of mind.
Taiwan would shoulder the responsibility of ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region, he said, adding that cross-strait risks and conflict could surely be reduced — a responsibility of the next president.
Hou later told reporters that they focused on cross-strait issues during their closed-door discussion, where he underlined the importance of his “3Ds” strategy of deterrence, dialogue and de-escalation.
Later yesterday, the delegation met with Ko.
Furuya was meeting him for a third time and said he was “impressed” by how Ko was always clear and direct.
The annual action plan the council published in March states that it would fully support and assist Taiwan in its bid to join the WHO and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Furuya said.
Frequent high-level visits to Taiwan recently have demonstrated that issues across the Taiwan Strait have become a trending topic around the world, he said.
A Taiwan contingency must not become reality, he said, calling on like-minded countries to safeguard cross-strait peace and stability.
It is important for Japan to work with partners to advance the strategy of a free and open Indo-Pacific region advocated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, he said.
Furuya said he firmly believes that the trust between Japan and Taiwan will never change, no matter which political party is leading the countries.
He extended his best wishes to Ko for the election.
Ko said his aim in running for the presidency was to create “harmony in society and among political parties, as well as peace across the Taiwan Strait.”
He said he wants Taiwan to bolster its economy, make an impact on the world, safeguard national security and be the best partner for democratic countries.
Ko said he hoped the saying “a Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan and the US-Japan Alliance” would become “Taiwan’s peace is peace for Japan and the world.”
Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate, last night attended a banquet that the Legislative Yuan hosted for the delegation, in part to also celebrate the council’s 50th anniversary.
Lai thanked the group for fostering bilateral relations and expressed the hope that both sides would continue to increase exchanges and cooperation, and together safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Additional reporting by CNA
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