After arriving in Japan on August 24 and attending a luncheon exchange with the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) and the cross-party delegation proceeded in the afternoon to the First Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives for the 88th Council Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU). A total of 13 delegations, including member-country and observer delegations, attended the meeting. At the opening session, KMT Legislator Hung Mong-Kai delivered the opening declaration on behalf of KMT Legislator Dr. Alice Chang, Chair of the 87th APPU Council Meeting.
Legislator Hung first expressed his sincere appreciation to the Japanese APPU delegation for its thoughtful arrangements and warm hospitality. He noted that Japan has long played an active role in APPU affairs and has made important contributions to parliamentary exchanges, regional peace, and shared prosperity across the Asia-Pacific. He said the Republic of China (Taiwan) delegation was deeply honored to gather with fellow parliamentarians today in the charming city of Tokyo to jointly discuss key issues facing the Asia-Pacific region.
Legislator Hung also expressed his sincere sympathy to those affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture and the heavy rains in Chiba Prefecture. He noted that Taiwan and Japan both lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire and frequently face extreme weather, giving Taiwan a deep understanding of the difficulties involved in post-disaster recovery. He added that solidarity and cooperation are essential to overcoming such challenges, and expressed hope that reconstruction in the affected areas would proceed swiftly and that those affected could soon return safely to their normal lives.
Legislator Hung further noted that the previous APPU General Assembly had featured substantive and productive discussions on societal resilience, energy security, economic sustainability, and critical infrastructure. This year’s Tokyo meeting built on those discussions under the theme “Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Maintaining a Free and Open Economic Order and Strengthening Regional Supply Chain Resilience.” He said the theme reflects APPU’s longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and prosperity while addressing major challenges facing the international community today.
He expressed hope that parliamentarians attending the Council Meeting and General Assembly would engage in open, practical, and constructive discussions. Drawing an analogy with Taiwan’s famous bubble tea, Legislator Hung said teamwork is much like making the drink: when different ingredients are brought together in the right balance, they create a distinctive flavor enjoyed around the world. In the same way, he hoped the different perspectives and proposals offered by APPU parliamentarians would inspire innovative ideas and new directions for policymaking.
Legislator Hung then nominated Japanese House of Representatives Member Yamaguchi Shunichi to serve as Chair of the 88th APPU Council Meeting. The nomination was approved unanimously by applause, after which Chair Yamaguchi presided over the remainder of the meeting.
In the evening, Vice President Chiang and the Taiwan delegation attended a welcome dinner at the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, hosted by Speaker Mori Eisuke. In his remarks, Speaker Mori said APPU members share the core values of democracy, freedom, and openness, and that strengthening the resilience of free supply chains has become increasingly important amid geopolitical instability. He emphasized that a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is a shared aspiration among APPU members. He then added that against the backdrop of rapid global digitalization, semiconductors have become strategic resources, making Taiwan, home to global semiconductor leader TSMC, an important like-minded partner. Speaker Mori expressed hope that the General Assembly would break new ground under the theme “Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Maintaining a Free and Open Economic Order and Strengthening Regional Supply Chain Resilience,” and wished participants fruitful, diverse, and open discussions.
Senator Andy P. Choor of the Federated States of Micronesia then delivered remarks on behalf of the participating delegations. APPU Chair Yamaguchi subsequently raised a toast to the guests, marking the start of the evening’s exchanges.
Vice President Chiang and the cross-party legislators also personally thanked Speaker Mori for his hospitality and engaged warmly with representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, including Tuvalu, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, further strengthening bilateral ties. The atmosphere throughout the evening was relaxed and cordial. The dinner concluded after approximately two hours, bringing the first day of the APPU agenda to a successful close. (2026/08/24)
