YOU Si-kun: Thankful to the entire people of Yonaguni Town and wising the everlasting relations between Taiwan and Japan.
President You arrived in Sonai Port of Yonaguni Town at noon on July 4 for the direct ferry service from Suao Harbor to Yonaguni Town. After customs clearance, President You and the delegation proceeded to the luncheon venue.
The luncheon began by the welcome remarks of Mayor Shukichi Hokama. He first extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by President You to Yonaguni Town. He stated that this visit marked a critical moment in history. He was honored to meet all of the distinguished guests. Since pre-WWII until the end of the war, Yonaguni and Taiwan have maintained close connection. Without Taiwan, there is no economic development of Yonaguni Town. Accordingly, their ancestors have always reminded them to maintain friendly relations with Taiwan. He stated that 41 years ago, forebears of Yonaguni attempted to promote the sisterhood with Hualien. However, due to high threshold for exchanges required by the Japanese government, bilateral interactions were limited. Therefore, he was grateful to President You for making this trip possible. In addition, Taiwan enjoys closer relations with Yonaguni Island, Okinawa and even the entire Japan. He mentioned that in 2021 Japan launched a township chief alliance. A total of 138 township chiefs joined it. He was one of them. They expressed their request to the Kishida Administration to strengthen Taiwan-Japan relations, including economic and people-to-people exchanges and security. He hoped to strengthen bilateral relations from regulatory perspective. He concluded his remarks by saying that although Yonaguni is small but very diversified and is a wonderful destination for vacation. In addition, there is only 111 kilometers apart from Taiwan. He hoped that both sides can work together to promote development.
In her remarks, Representative Shimajiri Aiko stated that in May this year, she accompanied member of House of Councilors Santo Akkiko to Taiwan and learned about the arrangement. She came to welcome Taiwan delegation from the third district of northern Okinawa. She mentioned that President You is from Yilan country and has strong attachment to Yonaguni Island of Okinawa and has spared no efforts in promoting bilateral relations. She was happy to see his wishes came true. She continued to state that Taiwan and Yonahuni enjoy cordial relation. Although it was scorching hot, she believed the first step needed to be taken to enhance bilateral relations despite sweating. She hoped the exchanges will be everlasting, will make rapid progress and will continue to deepen exchanges between Okinawa Prefecture and Taiwan.
In his remarks, Representative Kosaburo Nishime stated that when he visited Taiwan in May, he learned that President You was going to take a ferry to visit Yonaguni Island. He was delighted and welcome the big delegation led by President You to fulfill his promise that day. He pointed out that Yonaguni Town and Hualien City, Ishigaki City and Suao Town enjoy sisterhood for 40 years. He believed that continuing exchanges are very important. His father was born in Yonaguni Island, went to elementary school in Ishigaki City and then went to Palau for further study. He is honored to be the elective representative of Yonaguni. He hoped to continue to strengthen friendship with Taiwan in the future. In closing, he thanked President You for arranging this trip.
President You stated that this was a historical moment to take the ferry from his hometown Yilan to Japan’s westernmost point Yonaguni Island. He was very touched. He pointed out the three meanings of this trip. First, this marked the ice-braking action by the direct ferry service from Suao Harbor and Yonaguni Town. Second, this marked a trailblazing trip for Taiwan’s tourism industry, government agencies and academic community. Third, this marked the parliamentary diplomacy between Taiwan-Japan Exchange Association of the Legislative Yuan, Japanese-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council and Yonaguni Island. He wanted to take this historical moment to express his utmost respect and appreciation to the distinguished guests from Taiwan’s industry, government and academia and to Mayor Shukichi Hokama, Speaker Sakimoto Toshio, Japanese Diet members and all staffers for making this trip possible.
He continued to state that Taiwan enjoyed long cordial relations with Japan and had close exchanges in the fields of economics and trade, high-tech, and culture. Taiwan and Japan provided mutual help during natural disasters. When he stepped on the soil of Yonaguni Island today, he deeply realized the close interdependence of each other after all they are only 111 kilometers apart. He could not help but thought of former Prime Minister Abe’s statement: “A Taiwan contingency is a contingency of Japan.” He also deeply felt the attention of Prime Minister Kishida on the peace and stability of East Asis and his determination to defend regional security and international order.
President shared his seven-word poem with the guests. “A hundred kilometers eastward from Suao, Taiwan can be seen westward from Yonaguni. Suao and Yonaguni enjoy brotherhood relations. They will promote transport and tourism development together.” He once again proposed his initiative to promote the direct ferry service. He pointed out that more than two million visits paid by Japanese every year. As long as 1% of them, that is nearly 20,000 travelers are willing to spend one more day to visit Yonaguni, then they can rerun to Japan directly from Yonaguni or from Taiwan by air. As such, an extra of more than 20,000 visits will be paid per year to Yonaguni. This will be tremendously helpful for the tourism industry of both Taiwan and Japan.
President You stated that many friends told him that they have travelled to many places around the world except Yonaguni. Ever since they learned about this trip, more than 20 local associations heads, including Tainan, Chiayi and Yunlin expressed their interest in visiting. Since local community and domestic tourism is very popular in Taiwan, Yonaguni will be a good destination for our people since it will take one day to have a round trip by bus. He believed that this would be attractive to Tawain’s tourists. President You also mentioned that when he was young he rode motorcycle to Sandiao Cape Lighthouse as the easternmost, Eluanbi Cape Lighthouse as the southernmost, Fuguijiao Lighthouse in the northernmost and the highest Mountain Jade of Taiwan. He believed that with Japan’s population of 125 million, many of them would share the same thoughts with him or Japan’s Emperor Akihito or former Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo to visit Japan’s westernmost point.
Then President wanted to express his gratitude to the local government of Yonaguni Town and the entire people. Because before he embarked the trip, he received a letter of appreciation for former member of Air Rescue Group Chiu Chui-yu. President You read his letter on the spot.
“Dear President You, I learned from the newspaper that you are going to lead a delegation to Yonaguni Island on July 4. The following is the true story that I personally experienced in 1968 (55 years ago). I want to take this opportunity to let you know how the firefighters and medical doctor saved me when I was forced to land at that time. (He was the pilot for Air Rescue Group at that time.) I hope you will take the opportunity to express my utmost appreciation to firefighter Mr. Toyo Hiroji, Dr. Ikema Eisan and nurse Shizu of Nahashi for their rescue and medical treatment provided to me at that time though Yonaguni Town Government.
Sincerely yours,
Former Air Rescue Group pilot and currently Taiwan Transportation Safety Board consulting member Chiu Chui-yu
President You concluded his remarks by expressing appreciation to the entire people of Yonaguni Town on behalf of Taiwan and Mr. Chiu Chui-yu. He hoped that Mayor Shukichi Hokama will convey this gratitude to relatives of Mr. Toyo Hiroji, Dr. Ikema Eisan and nurse Shizu of Nahashi for their help.
In his remarks, Tourism Administration Director General Chang Shi-chung expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, because the trip marked a big event for the tourism industry of both Taiwan and Japan. There is a Japanese saying goes like this. Success should not be delayed. There is a Taiwanese saying as well. Well begun is half done. Today marked a good start. After listening to the remarks of President You and two Japanese parliamentarians, he further understood the significance of this trip. On one hand, it will further parliamentary exchanges. On the other hand, after the direct ferry service is provides, many traditional boundaries will no longer exist. In the past, few tourists to Okinawa will visit Yonaguni, including himself. Although he tried to pay a visit, there was no transportation provided. He continued to state that from the information provided by Yonaguni Tourism Association, he believed that it would be significant for Taiwan’s tourism industry, and the Yilan County Tourism Association led by Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao and tourism agencies led by Tourism Administration to promote future development.
The luncheon concluded at 2 p.m. The delegation proceeded to the Cape Irizaki where the Westernmost Point in Japan Monument is. (E)
