Secretary-General Lin Jih-Jia of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by Kevin C. F. Lin, Director of International Affairs Department and Chen Chin-jen, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, received a delegation from Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association on the morning of September 4. Secretary-General Lin first extended his warm welcome to the delegation. He was very pleased to meet again with his old friend-Tanaka Kazunori, Member of Japanese House of Representatives, and particularly gratified by their reunion after four years due to the disruption of COVID-19 pandemic. 

Secretary-General Lin stated that according to a recent survey conducted by a major real estate website in Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture has topped the list of “Most Desirable Cities to Live in the greater Tokyo area” for six consecutive years. He himself was particularly fond of the laid-back vibe and the charming night view of Yokohama, the biggest city of Kanagawa Prefecture, where he and his family had visited for a couple of times. Secretary-General Lin went on to say that Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association is the most stable and dynamic exchange platform between Taiwan and Japan, aiming to build up the valuable traditions of mutual trust and reciprocity between the two sides. Under the leadership of Hon. Tanaka, concurrently honorary Chair of the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association, the close ties of Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen. At present, bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan have been at their best level ever. Before 2019, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of Japanese visiting Taiwan was around 2.17 million, while the number of Taiwanese visiting Japan was roughly 4.92 million. By the end of August 2023 as the pandemic faded away, the Japanese visiting Taiwan was over 300,000; meanwhile, the number of Taiwanese visiting Japan reached to over 1.8 million, a figure that fully demonstrated frequent exchanges and a profound friendship between the people of both sides. 

Secretary-General Lin concluded by expressing special gratitude to the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association for initiating fundraising activities and donating 300,000 and 800,000 Japanese Yens respectively to the quake-hit regions of Tainan in 2016 and those of Hualien in 2018. These concrete actions helped survivors of the earthquakes rebuild their homeland, displaying Taiwan and Japan's friendship and mutual assistance. What touched him more was when Taiwan suffered from the worst coronavirus breakout and was in dire need of vaccines, Japan generously donated six batches of COVID-19 vaccines, 4.2 million doses in total, to assist Taiwan in the spirit of humanitarianism. It once again testifies that Taiwan and Japan are true friends who can help one another weather through the difficulties. It is hoped that with the support of the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association, the Taiwan-Japan relationship will continue to deepen, further expand, and last forever.

In his remarks, Representative Tanaka Kazunori stated that due to the pandemic, it took longer time for senior members of the Association to visit Taiwan again. Their delegation had received warm hospitality, and the visit had been fruitful. He sincerely thanked Secretary-General Lin for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet the delegation while the Presidential and legislative elections slated to be held on Jan 13, 2024 are drawing near. Representative Tanaka introduced that Kanagawa is a large metropolitan prefecture with a population of approximately 10 million, and the city of Yokohama is renowned for its Chinatown. Looking back into history, Kanagawa Prefecture had maintained close contacts with Taiwan over a long period of time. He hoped the amicable exchanges between the two sides will remain unchanged. He further stressed that Taiwan had assisted Japan in many areas as well. For example, Taiwanese people generously donated more than 20 billion Yens to Japan for disaster relief in the wake of the 311 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. He wanted to express gratitude again, because Taiwan was the very first country who made donations to Japan. Such kindness had received far-reaching responses across Japan. Taiwan’s timely assistance was deeply appreciated by the National Diet of Japan as well.

Representative Tanaka went on to comment that Taiwan’s semiconductor industries led by TSMC has caught a lot of attention in Japan. TSMC is most welcome to build chip plants in Japan. Recently, many Japan’s political heavyweights had paid visits to Taiwan, which symbolized a new chapter in Japan-Taiwan relations. Japan attached great importance to the relationship with Taiwan as the U.S. did. If there were a Taiwan contingency, Japan would rally with the U.S. to address the challenge and assist Taiwan as their own compatriots. Taiwan and Japan share a community of common destiny and one serves as another’s major partner. The mission of the Association is to promote and further strengthen the ties between Taiwan and Japan. He hoped both sides could continuously enhance exchanges in all fields and elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights.