The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

August 21, 2023

Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun meets 65-member study delegation from Japan’s LDP Youth Division

President You Si-kun: Thanks to former Prime Minister Abe’s foresight, Japan is actively engaged in Indo-Pacific peace and stability

Accompanied by Legislators Chuang Jui-hsiung, Liu Shyh-fang, Mark Chih-wei Ho, Kao Chia-yu, Hsieh Yi-fong, Chen I-hsin, Hung Mong-kai, Wu I-ding, Chiu Chen-yuan, and Wang Wan-yu, Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun met a 65-member study delegation from Japan’s LDP Youth Division led by Division Director Suzuki Norikazu and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Deputy Representative Okajima Hiroyuki at 6 p.m. on August 21. Taipei City Councilor Yamata Mai was also present. President You had a group photo with the delegation in front of the legislative chamber, after which the group proceeded to the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel for a meeting and dinner banquet.  

In his remarks, President You extended a warm welcome to the delegation on behalf of the Legislative Yuan. The pandemic had negatively affected exchanges in recent years, he said, but he had still managed to meet with Division Director Suzuki four times and Representative Nakasone three times. Many of the people present are, he said, old friends, recalling that when he served as Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party in 2007, he received a 100-member LDP Youth Division led by then-Division Director Kishi Nobuo and hosted a banquet for the group in Beitou. He still recalled vividly that they had had a great time together and was grateful for the longstanding support the LDP Youth Division had shown Taiwan. This postpandemic visit demonstrated how much importance they attached to Taiwan. He believed that this visit would further enhance bilateral friendship.

President You then said that the entire world had been saddened by the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe. Taiwan had sent a delegation to the state funeral to express the sorrow of the people of Taiwan. In March this year, the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun had held a photo exhibition in honor of former Prime Minister Abe in Taipei. Mme. Abe Akie came to Taiwan to attend the exhibition in July. President You said he was grateful to former Prime Minister Abe for his continual support of Taiwan in the international community. On behalf of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, he expressed his appreciation to former Prime Minister and Mme. Abe for their support of Taiwan.

President You praised former Prime Minister Abe as a far-sighted and stellar statesman. Prime Minister Abe had said that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency and a contingency for the Japan-US alliance” prior to the start of the Ukraine-Russian War on December 1, 2021. His statement has become a global consensus for Taiwan Strait issues. He also pointed out that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on April 19, 2023, that “The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan, …it is a global issue. …we together with the international community absolutely opposed to such a change.” On May 5, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. stated: “Philippines bases could be useful if Taiwan were attacked.” On May 10, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: “Taiwan’s security is a global issue. French President Emmanual Macron said in April this year that Europe should not be a vassal in a US-China clash. However, the 2024-2030 Military Budget Act passed on August 1, making France the first country to legislate protecting freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. All of these reflect former Prime Minister Abe’s statements concerning the Taiwan Strait.

President You pointed out that the examples mentioned above show the foresight of former Prime Minister Abe and Japan’s critical role in defending Indo-Pacific peace and stability. He concluded his remarks by thanking the LDP Youth Division for enhancing Taiwan-Japan exchanges and Japan for its longstanding support. He wished the delegation a successful and pleasant trip.

In his remarks, Division Director Suzuki Norikazu thanked President You for his warm hospitality. He mentioned that when he met with Vice President Lai Ching-te, he found that both Japan and Taiwan face the daunting challenge of a low birth rate. He believed that the two countries could work together to overcome this issue. Second, as President You mentioned, peace in the Taiwan Strait is related to global peace. Japan cannot tolerate any change to the status quo by use of force. This is the consensus between Taiwan and Japan. He closed his remarks by saying that whenever he visits Taiwan, he is always warmly received. He hopes that friendship between Taiwan and Japan will be further enhanced.

Afterward, President You and the delegation exchanged gifts. The meeting and banquet concluded around 7:50 p.m.