The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

May 5, 2023

President You meets and hosts a luncheon in honor of Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Member Shinsuke Okuno of the House of Representatives.

You Si-kun: Former Prime Minister Abe underscores the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and his determination to safeguard regional security and international order.

Accompanies by legislators Chiu Yi-ying, Kuo Kuo-wen, Chen I-hsin, Chiu Chen-yuan, Chen Jiau-hua, Freddy Lin, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Ya-shu, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, President You Si-kun met and hosted a luncheon in honor of Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Members of House of Representative Shinsuke Okuno, Kousaburou Nishime, Hayato Suzuki, Masahiro Kohmura and Japan Taiwan Exchange Association Chief Representative · Hiroyasu Izumi on the afternoon of May 5.   

President You first of all extended a sincere welcome to the delegation on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and showed his appreciation to Representative Okuno for his participation in the first Taiwan, US and Japan Strategic Forum videoconference in July 2021 during the pandemic as a member of the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council. Former Prime Minister Abe also stated as a mysterious guest in the forum that Hong Kong’s situation absolutely cannot be repeated in Taiwan. His proposal at the end of the same year that a Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan makes us strong feel the determination of Japan’s attention on the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and determination to safeguard regional security and international order. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, he wanted to convey a deep gratitude to former Prime Minister Abe.   

President You continued to state that the biggest lesson of the 21st century is how to respond the continued expansion of autocratic and hegemonic China. In the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Japan last month reached a consensus to warn China on issues related with its claim of sovereignty in South China Sea and Taiwan. Prime Minister Kishida also stated in an interview on April 20 that safeguarding peace and stability across Taiwan Strait is not only essential to Japan but also to the stability of the international community. He also stressed that Japan’s position on the issues related with Taiwan is consistent. Any issues should have a peaceful resolution through dialogues. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, he wanted to show his utmost respect to him.

President You continued to state that in March this year, it was regrettable when China tempted Taiwan’s diplomatic ally Honduras to terminate 82-year diplomatic relations. The people of Taiwan are grateful to Japan’s attention to the Honduras foreign minister’s visit to China to talk about establishing diplomatic relations and voiced in support of Taiwan. He stressed that Taiwan and Japan share fundamental values. Bilateral economic relations and people-to-people exchanges make Taiwan a very important partner of Japan. Japan regards Taiwan as an irreplaceable partner.

President You stated that his hometown Yilan and Japan’s westernmost point of Japan’s territory Yonaguni are only 111 kilometers apart and understands very well the close geographical distance from each other.  He said that before 1945, both sides had close fishery and people-to-people exchanges. Yonaguni once had a population of more than 17,000. After the US took over, the contact was less intensive compared to the past. The current population of Yonaguni is only one tenth of the past. He hoped that in the future Suao and Yonaguni could have direct sea transport to encourage Japanese tourists to Taiwan to Yonaguni to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the westernmost point of Japan’s territory to promote Yonaguni’s economic development and bilateral relations, and to demonstrate bilateral cordial relations.

President You continued to state that Yonaguni is the westernmost point of Japan’s territory and enjoys friendly relations with Suao. Before Emperor Akihito abdicated on March 28, 2018, he visited Yonaguna to have a distant look at Suao. Therefore, he suggested that if only 1% of the two million Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan visit Yonaguni, it would have 20,000 tourists, 10 times of that of current population. He then shared the photos of Yonaguni with the delegation. He mentioned about the close contacts between the two peoples that could be found from Matsuda Yoshitaka’s works include Yaeyama no Taiwanjin (Yaeyama’s Taiwanese People) and Yonaguni Taiwan oraiki (Records of Travels Between Yonaguni and Taiwan). President You continued to state that Chairman Furuya and him went to Dongauo to have a distant look at Yonagoni on October 9 last year. He promised to Chairman Furuya that during his presidency of the Legislative Yuan, would form a delegation to visit Yonaguni. The trip was scheduled to embark in June. He invited the delegation to join the rank to meet again in Yonaguni. President You concluded his remarks by expressing his sincere appreciation to the delegation on behalf of Taiwan’s congress and wish Taiwan and Japan everlasting friendship.

Representative Okuno began his remarks by stating that he visits Taiwan one or two times per year. Therefore, Taiwan is no stranger to him. He is more than happy to handle issues between Taiwan and Japan. His hometown is Nara. He was told that Nara is one of favorite destinations of the people of Taiwan. He welcomes more tourists to his hometown. He continued to say that although he visits Taiwan quite often, he has not had any change to visit Kinmen until yesterday to allow him to know more about the importance of peace. He pointed out that he strongly felt the high hope of Taiwan to join CPTPP. He supports the economic development of Taiwan and Japan. He continued to say that Japan needs to formulate Taiwan Relations Act like the US to assist Taiwan on a legal basis. So that they would not be denied or criticized. He hoped to maintain close contact with legislators and hoped to have more exchanges and cooperation with young parliamentarians.