Press Release
Legislative Yuan
December 27, 2022
Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun receives a delegation led by Japanese Senator Hiroshige Seko
You Si-kun: Taiwan-Japanese cordial relations will continue to deepen based on the spirit of former Prime Minister Abe
Accompanied by Legislators Chiou Yi-ying, Hsieh Yi-fong, Chiu Chen-yuan, and Chen Jiau-hua; Representative Izumi Hiroyasu; Secretary General Lin Jih-jia; Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Secretary General Chou Shyue-yow; and others, Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun received a Japanese delegation led by Senator Hiroshige Seko.
President You began by saying that it was an honor to meet the guests. The delegation had traveled to the grave of former President Lee Teng-hui this morning to pay tribute to him, and then traveled south to Kaohsiung to lay flowers at a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe.
President You recalled his visit the preceding month to Hagi City, the birthplace of former Prime Minister Abe, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the birthplace of the Meiji Restoration. There, he visited Matsushita Village School and Meirin Academy, where Shoin Yoshida taught. He was impressed by the fact that Shoin Yoshida had inspired many of the Restoration supporters, thus leading to the Meiji Restoration and its constitutional system of governance. He realized why former Prime Minister Abe had become such a great and globally influential statesman. President You stated that Japan was quick and effective in responding to international events, such as the arrival of the American fleet in 1853, the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and the victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. As China has not yet achieved democracy and become a constitutional state, he said he believes Japan is the more admirable country. President You also mentioned that when he visited Japan, he read poetry by Shoin Yoshida and learned about the stories and monuments of Hagi. He came to admire the founding spirit of Japan, evidenced through the poem by Shoin Yoshida concerning the guest house in Isohara:
I was drinking to the long wind in the seatower. My face was red and my ears were hot and I was drunk. Suddenly, I saw the clouds and waves ten thousand miles away. I led my army to the battlefield, and a million brave soldiers rushed upwards. The dream is shattered, the light extinguished, and the sound of the waves shakes my pillow and the night.
He said he feels that Shoin Yoshida is an intellectual concerned about his country and his people and that Japan is a resilient and open-minded country, from which Taiwan could learn much.
President You then said that former Prime Minister Abe was a longtime supporter of Taiwan. Last year, the Japanese government donated more than 4.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which was timely relief to Taiwan during the pandemic crisis. Taiwan is grateful for Prime Minister Abe’s assistance, as he said, “A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance.” This is a reminder of the importance your country attaches to Taiwan’s strategic position, as demonstrated by his foresight when tensions increased in the Taiwan Strait during China’s military exercises in August. Separately, on behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, President You expressed condolences on the death of Prime Minister Abe.
President You then shared his belief that China’s hegemonic rise in recent years, its land reclamation in the South China Sea, upending of Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems,” and bullying of Taiwan by military aircraft, have caused tension and instability in the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the war between Russia and Ukraine starting in February posed a major challenge to the international order. At an interim cabinet meeting on December 16, Japan approved a new version of the National Security Strategy and three other security documents, a major change in postwar security policy. The military strategy has shifted from merely being one of homeland defense to having a double-edged, offensive and defensive approach toward China, North Korea, and Russia. Prime Minister Kishida said after the adoption of the three security documents that the aim was to ensure the peace and security of Japan and the international community and to strengthen the international order based on the rule of law. China is a strategic challenge and Japan’s clear policy is beneficial to the stability and peace of the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaker You concluded by thanking the Japanese government for continuing to emphasize the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at various international forums. Taiwan and Japan are both constitution-based nations that share the universal values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. He said that he looks forward to the continued deepening of close ties between Taiwan and Japan, as “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Taiwan and Japan can strengthen cooperation in various fields, including regional security, economics and trade, and the industrial transformation. Taiwan will also continue to further its democratic values and strengthen its defense forces to jointly ensure the peace of the Indo-Pacific region with Japan and the United States.
In response, Senator Seko began his remarks by thanking President You and the legislators for their warm reception. He said that since their arrival in Taiwan, the delegation had been warmly received by the government and people, and that he would like to thank the Taiwanese government for the exceptional arrangements that had been made. Senator Seko shared that he believes Taiwan is Japan’s partner in democracy and freedom with which it has close economic and trade ties. The two countries have helped each other overcome difficulties during natural disasters. When Japan had a shortage of facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic, it received a large number from Taiwan, a kindness that will not be forgotten. Senator Seko also said that the three recently formulated security documents mentioned Taiwan, especially the stability of the Taiwan Strait, and also framed China as a challenge for Japan. This indicates, he said, that Japan and Taiwan will stand firmly together. Such a commitment is not only underscored by the three security documents, but also by the visit to Taiwan by 12 parliamentarians on this trip. Senator Seko said that Shinzo Abe’s memorial to his father, Jintaro Abe cited Shoin Youshida’s Book of Remembrance: every person goes through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Even though, the senator said, the tree of Abe Shinzo had fallen, seeds he had sown will blossom and bear fruit. He believed that with the joint efforts of President You and the legislatures of both sides, the tree of friendship of Taiwan and Japan would continue to flourish.
Legislator Chiu Yi-ying followed with remarks saying that she was pleased to have the opportunity to see old friends, regretting she would be unable to stay and dine with them. She hoped that the next time such a delegation came to Taiwan, it would visit her constituency, Kaohsiung, or have President You lead a return visit, so that the relationship between Taiwan and Japan would be closer.
Legislator Hsieh Yi-foung then expressed her belief that the friendship between Taiwan and Japan that had been furthered by former Prime Minister Abe will continue for generations. She also hoped that the dignitaries would have the opportunity to visit her constituency, Changhua, saying that Changhua is Taiwan’s second-largest producer of buckwheat and that buckwheat noodles are also manufactured there under the guidance of Japanese trainers. She closed by welcoming the dignitaries to try more of Taiwan’s extraordinary agricultural products.
Legislator Chiu Chen-yuan finished out the meeting by saying he attached great importance to Taiwan-Japan exchanges on trade, military defense and diplomatic cooperation and culture. He mentioned that his favorite manga is Naruto, which echoed Senator Seko’s reference to the seeds planted by former Prime Minister Abe, and that such a spirit would carry cooperation further.
After exchanging souvenirs and taking a group photo, the meeting concluded at 18:25.
A translation of President You’s remarks is as follows:
Senators Seko Hiroshige, Yamamoto Junzo, Shinsuke Suematsu, Nakada Hiroshi,
Yamada Hiro, Kitamura Tsuneo, Ohno Yasutada, Horii Iwao, Matsukawa Rui,
Kada Hiroyuki, Ikuina Akiko, and Tomonoh Rio; Legislators Chiou Yi-ying, Hsieh Yi-fong, Chiu Chen-yuan, and Chen Jiau-hua; Representative Izumi Hiroyasu; Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Secretary General Chou Shyue-yow: good morning!
It is a great honor to meet all of you! On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, I welcome all of you. This morning, you visited the grave of former President Lee Teng-hui to pay your respects, and then traveled south to Kaohsiung to lay flowers at the bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe. I am touched by your heartfelt sentiments.
Last month, I went to Yamaguchi Prefecture, the hometown of former Prime Minister Abe, and visited Hagi City, the birthplace of the Meiji Restoration. I visited Matsushita Village School, where Yoshida Matsuhina taught, and the Meirin Academy. I was moved by the fact that Yoshida Shoin inspired many of the Restoration supporters and hence can be seen as causing the birth of the Meiji Restoration and the constitutional system. He also realized that there is a reason former Prime Minister Abe became a great and influential statesman.
Prime Minister Abe was a great supporter of Taiwan during his lifetime. Last year, Japan’s government donated more than 4.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan, providing timely relief during the pandemic crisis. Taiwan is grateful for former Abe’s assistance. His statement, “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance” is a reminder of the great importance that your country attaches to Taiwan’s strategic position, as demonstrated by his foresight when the situation in the Taiwan Strait became tense during China’s military exercises aimed at Taiwan in August. On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, I would like to express my deepest condolences on the loss of former Prime Minister Abe.
China’s hegemonic rise in recent years, its land reclamation in the South China Sea, upending of Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems,” and bullying of Taiwan by military aircraft, have caused tension and instability in the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the war between Russia and Ukraine that started in February of this year has posed a major challenge to international order. At an interim cabinet meeting on December 16, Japan approved a new version of the National Security Strategy and three other security documents, a major change in Japan’s security policy. The military strategy has shifted from homeland defense to an offensive and defensive approach that addresses China, North Korea, and Russia. Prime Minister Kishida also said after the adoption of the three other security documents that the goal is to ensure the peace and security of Japan and the international community and strengthen the international rules-based order. China is a strategic challenge, and Japan’s clear policy is greatly beneficial to the stability and peace of the Indo-Pacific region.
I would like to thank your government for continuing to publicly emphasize the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at various international forums. Taiwan and Japan are both constitution-based nations that share the universal values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. I look forward to the continued deepening of the close partnership between Taiwan and Japan, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. Taiwan and Japan will strengthen cooperation in various fields, including regional security, trade, and industrial transformation. Taiwan will also continue to deepen its democratic values and strengthen its defense forces to ensure the peace of the Indo-Pacific region with Japan and the United States.
Finally, I wish your delegation a successful and safe visit and continued friendship between our two countries. Thank you!