The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

October 9, 2022

President You Si-kun and a 19-member delegation from the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council visited Yilan

President You: We have come to Yilan to show how geographically close Taiwan and Japan are and underscore the importance of our friendship.

Accompanied by Legislator Chen Ou-po, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, and Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, President You today visited Yilan with a 19-member delegation from the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council. In addition to tasting Yilan’s local delicacies, the group visited scenic spots with ties to Japan. For example, they viewed Yonaguni Jima, the westernmost point of Japan, from Donau and visited Luodong Sports Park. At the end of the program, a bottle of world-renowned Kavalan whisky was presented to each member of the delegation. Chairman Furuja and the entire delegation found the visit memorable.

President You stated that since Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council Chairman Keiji Furuya took office in 2018, he has visited Taiwan many times, the latest being on August 24. When Chairman Furuya called on President You, he said, “A Taiwan emergency is an emergency for Japan” in Taiwanese, underscoring the close friendship between Taiwan and Japan. President You invited Chairman Furuya to visit his hometown Yilan to take in the sight of Yonaguni Jima, the Japanese territory closest to Taiwan. Chairman Furuya shared that he had looked at Yilan from Yonaguni many times, but had never done so the other way around. This time, he led the delegation to celebrate the Republic of China’s National Day and visit Yilan to experience the close connection between the two countries.

President You accompanied the delegation to Yilan. The major purpose of the visit was to help the delegation gain a deeper understanding of Yilan and to take in the sight of Yonaguni Jima from Yilan. Yonaguni is the westernmost point of Japan and is situated in Okinawa Prefecture, only 110 kilometers form Su’ao. Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo once stated, “A Taiwan emergency is an emergency for Japan and also for the Japan-US alliance.” Taiwan and Japan are geographically close and share the values of democracy and freedom. This visit symbolized cordial relations between Taiwan and Japan. President You and the delegation traveled to the Suhua Highway Monument and used a high-power telescope to look upon Yonaguni Jima. Japan’s parliamentarians were delighted to then engage in a telephone conversation with the head of Yonaguni Jima, which President You joined. All participants felt how close the two countries are. Although the view was obscured by the weather, the delegation was still excited. Chairman Furuya stated that although the weather was not good enough for them to have a clear picture of Yonaguni Jima, they knew that it was there. This trip helped him feel clearly how close Taiwan and Japan are. A banner reading, “Japan-Taiwan Cordial Friendship” was displayed between President You and the delegation as photos were taken.

The delegation then tasted local delicacies in Su’ao, including vegetable stew with fried egg crisps and rice cakes. In remarks at the event, President You thanked Chairman Furuya for coming to Taiwan to take in the sight of Yonaguni Jima. Chairman Furuya thanked President You for arranging the trip to help him more fully understand the close relations between Taiwan and Japan.

Afterwards, President You and the delegation visited Luodong Sports Park, which was built when President You was serving as Yilan Country Magistrate. Architect Ishimura Toshiya of the Kao Ye Landscape Corporation was on hand to introduce the park. He told the delegation how he had employed local landmarks in creating elements of the park, such as Sky Watching Hill, which was inspired by the volcanic Guishan Island. A group photo was then taken in front of Sky Watching Hill and the delegation proceeded to the next stop.

The group then traveled to the Memorial Hall of the Founding of Yilan, which was set up by the first Governor of Yilan, Saigo Kikujiro, during the Japanese colonial-rule era. He was the son of Saigō Takamori, one of the three outstanding heroes of the Meiji Restoration, and made tremendous contributions to Yilan’s modernization. The Memorial in Honor of the Benevolent Rule of Governor Saigo Kikujiro was thus established in memory of him. The Memorial Hall serves as the residence for administrative chiefs, including President You while Yilan Country Magistrate. The house and its inner furnishings have been kept intact as a way of remembering the close bonds between Taiwan and Japan.

The last stop was the Kavalan Whisky Distillery. Making good whisky requires a suitable climate. The delegation enjoyed tasting Kavalan whisky and learning more about the living environment of Yilan with its beautiful mountains and excellent water. This marked a perfect end to the visit to Yilan.