Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) led a cross-party delegation that arrived in Japan at around 11 a.m. today (August 24). Accompanied by Deputy Representative Tsai Ming-Yao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan and others, the delegation’s first stop was a luncheon exchange with the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council, attended by Council Chair Furuya Keiji and 13 other council members.
Chair Furuya first welcomed Vice President Chiang and the cross-party delegation to Japan to attend the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) meetings. He noted that the former Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, founded more than 50 years ago, was renamed the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council in 2026, reflecting the lasting trust and friendship between Taiwan and Japan. Chair Furuya also expressed special thanks to Taiwan for extending assistance immediately after the Kumamoto earthquake and to the people of Taiwan for their generous donations to disaster relief efforts.
Chair Furuya commended Taiwan’s rapid economic growth over the past decade. He noted that just as Japan’s Shinkansen has contributed to Taiwan’s transportation infrastructure and economic development, TSMC from Taiwan has also had a significant impact in Japan. Taiwan-Japan cooperation has created mutually beneficial outcomes, he said, adding that he hoped the two sides would continue expanding industrial cooperation across a range of sectors.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Vice President Chiang first thanked Chair Furuya and the council members for taking the time to host the delegation. He said he was honored to lead a cross-party delegation from the Legislative Yuan to Japan once again to attend the APPU General Assembly. Vice President Chiang recalled that when he led a delegation to Japan two years ago, Chair Furuya had also extended warm hospitality. This visit, he said, marked the first time the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council had received a Legislative Yuan delegation since the council was renamed, making the occasion especially meaningful and reflecting the deep friendship between parliamentarians from Taiwan and Japan.
Vice President Chiang noted that the close exchanges between Taiwan and Japan are evident in several areas. In terms of parliamentary exchanges, the current (11th) Legislative Yuan has already received nearly 20 delegations of Japanese Diet members. On the economic and people-to-people fronts, bilateral trade and two-way tourism have continued to reach new highs, alongside TSMC’s establishment of a plant in Kumamoto. He highlighted that Taiwan and Japan are not only highly complementary in industry, but also share people-to-people ties that are as close as family. Vice President Chiang also took the opportunity, on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and the people of Taiwan, to express sincere sympathy to those affected by the recent earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, and said he hoped reconstruction in the affected areas would proceed smoothly.
Vice President Chiang emphasized that Taiwan-Japan relations are grounded in genuine, wide-ranging people-to-people ties built from the grassroots up. He also noted that Taiwan sincerely looks forward to welcoming Chair Furuya and all members of the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council to visit Taiwan at any time. He also wished the APPU General Assembly hosted by Japan every success.
The luncheon then began in a warm atmosphere, with Deputy Chair Ryu Hirofumi offering a toast with tea in place of wine. During the luncheon, the two sides exchanged views on Taiwan-Japan relations, bilateral trade and economic ties, and public transportation, among other issues. The luncheon lasted 90 minutes and concluded successfully after Deputy Chair Yamatani Eriko invited the participants to join in an ippon-jime, a traditional Japanese hand-clapping ritual used to mark the close of an occasion. (2026/08/24)
