You Si-kun: Looking forward to a closer cooperation with Japan to defend Indo-Pacific peace and stability

Accompanied by Legislators Chiu Tai-yuan, Hsieh Yi-fong, Chiu Chen-yuan and Chen Jiau-hua, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, President You Si-kun met with and hosted a dinner banquet in honor of Japan Innovation Party's Taiwan friendship discussion group and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu on August 2.

President You fist of all stated that he was delighted to have the opportunity to meet both old and new friends from Japan. On half of the Legislative Yuan, he extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He wanted to show his appreciation to head of the delegation Representative Baba Nobuyuki, House of Councillors Member Ishii Akira and House of Councillors Member Azuma Toru for their warm reception in November last year. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, he wanted to thank the Innovation Party for donating ¥10 million in February 2018 for rescue and relief for Hualien earthquake and also for the warmest comfort during the big earthquake occurred in September 2022. 

President You continue to state that on July 4 this year, he led a delegation to take the ferry to Japan’s westernmost point of Yonaguni Island, which is only 111 kilometers from Taiwan. It only takes two hours from Suao Town of Yilan County. All of a sudden, we found that the closest country to Taiwan is not China nor the Philippines, but Japan. After this special trip to Yonaguni Island, a lot of his friends mentioned to him that they had travelled to every corner of the world except Yonaguni Island. As of today, more than 20 groups showed interest in visiting Yonaguni. The major purpose of this trip was to explore the possibility for a new route for tourism and make a lot of people have deep understanding about the close interdependence of Taiwan and Japan.

President You Stated that not long after this trip China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi openly said that some Japanese advocated that a Taiwan contingency is a contingency of Japan, which is very ridiculous and dangerous. He wanted to take the opportunity to elaborate that without China’ repression at home and expansion abroad that pose a threat to world peace and stability, Japan would not have this argument. He also stated that a week earlier, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu also visited Yonaguni Island, making him the first chief cabinet secretary to visit Japan’s southwestern islands, demonstrating Japan’s attention on East Asia peace and stability and determination to defend regional security and international order. On behalf of Taiwan’s congress, he wanted to express the sincerest appreciation to Japan once again.

President You continued to state that Japan is a great and beautiful country that embraces new concept and has efficient reform. As he recalled history, it only takes Japan 40 years from Black Ships Incident in 1853 to international big power, a very rare example in history. More importantly, Japan soon becomes a country of freedom, democracy and human rights.  Compared with Japan, China has engaged itself in various reforms for 181 years since the Opium War in 1842 and still cannot have democratization.  This further shows the greatness of Japan. He continued to cite the Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report published by U.S. Freedom House this year, Japan ranks first in Asia and 11th in the world. Therefore, he wanted to show his respect to Japan, a great country of freedom and democracy.

President You stated in a sincere and earnest tone that the international situation had been changing in recent years. The global democratic landscape continues to shrink. Instead, there are increasing number of authoritarian regimes, autocracy, persecution, bullying and anti-democracy power that encroach democratic areas. Hong Kong’s protest against anti-extradition bill, Myanmar’s military government, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Russia-Ukraine War are worrisome. In order to maintain peace and deter China’s ambition to invade Taiwan, Taiwan needs to increase its self-defense capability and also needs to strengthen deterrence against China from democracies led by Japan and the United States. Japan is the only Aisa country in G7 and enjoys international credibility. We support Japan’s initiative of Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP) and is willing to have closer cooperation. He hoped hat Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen relations to jointly defend Indo-Pacific peace and stability.     

In his remarks, Representative Baba Nobuyuki thanked President You’s warm welcome. He agreed with what President You stated that Taiwan and Japan continue to deepen relations in various fields. He stated that Taiwan also donated more than ¥20 billion more than 10 years ago to assist in Eastern Japan post-earthquake reconstruction, and also face masks and medical devices to Japan during COVID-19 pandemic. He sincerely thanked Taiwan’s warm friendship and assistance. He continued to state that Innovation Party is the second largest opposition party in Japan’s Diet. He hoped that its seats will further increase to become the largest opposition party and become the ruling party someday to deepen relations with Taiwan. He also touched upon the issues of security, economics, and tourism that need the cooperation of Taiwan and Japan. Although some proposed that a Taiwan contingency is a contingency of Japan. He wanted to propose that peace in Taiwan is peace in Japan to deter China’s motives and thoughts to change the status quo with the use of force. In addition, the Innovation Party will do its best to support Taiwan’s accession to CPTPP. He also hoped to see more frequent people-to-people mutual exchanges to build a deeper and closer reliable relation between Taiwan and Japan.

The dinner banquet began after exchange of gifts and group photos. During the banquet, both sides exchanged views on various issues between Taiwan and Japan. The banquet completed at 8 p.m. (E)

Note: Delegation members

1. Representative Baba Nobuyuki

2. Representative Inoue Hidetaka

3. House of Councillors Member Yanagase Hirofumi

4. House of Councillors Member Otokita Shun

5. House of Councillors Member Azuma Toru

6. House of Councillors Member Ishii Akira

7. House of Councillors Member Shibata Takumi

8. Representative Nakatsuka Hiroshi,