On the afternoon of April 28, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han met with a six-member delegation led by former Japanese Minister of State for Economic Security and current House of Representatives Member Takaichi Sanae. He was accompanied by KMT Legislator Hung Mong-Kai and TPP Legislator Huang Shan-Shan, both Vice Presidents of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association; DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-Ting; Deputy Director Yang Fang-Ling of the Department of International Affairs; Secretary General Fan Chen-Kuo of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Representative Takaba Yo of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office; and Research Fellow Kobayashi Yukino.

President Han began by extending a sincere welcome to Representative Takaichi and her delegation. He noted that unlike Japan’s bicameral legislature, Taiwan has a unicameral system composed of 113 legislators, each entrusted with significant responsibilities by their constituents. President Han went on to say that the current international landscape is undergoing rapid and unpredictable changes, and Taiwan warmly welcomes its Japanese friends for this timely exchange. He emphasized the importance of Taiwan and Japan working together to address shared challenges in areas such as the economy, trade, and tariffs. Citing the latest public opinion survey released this April by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, President Han noted that 81% of the Taiwanese people feel close to Japan, while 76.6% of the Japanese people feel similarly toward Taiwan. He described these figures as highly encouraging and expressed his hope that, on this strong foundation, Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen exchanges across various fields.

Representative Takaichi expressed her appreciation to President Han for his warm reception despite his busy schedule. She conveyed greetings on behalf of Furuya Keiji, Chairman of the Japan-R.O.C. Diet Members’ Consultative Council, and thanked President Han for his longstanding efforts in promoting Taiwan-Japan relations. She emphasized that although this visit was organized in a personal capacity, the delegation includes both House of Representatives and House of Councillors members with expertise in fields such as foreign affairs, national defense, economy, and internal affairs. She expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for expanding parliamentary exchange with Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan.

Representative Takaichi went on to note that the current situation in Japan’s National Diet is similar to that of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, where the ruling party holds only a minority of seats. In such circumstances, building cross-party consensus and uniting public opinion are essential for advancing the well-being of the people. She also pointed out that the tariff policies proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have significantly affected global financial markets and may pose challenges to Japan’s industries, including automobiles, steel, and aluminum. At this critical juncture, she stressed the importance of turning crises into opportunities. She suggested that, in addition to strengthening their own capabilities, Taiwan and Japan should actively pursue collaboration in industrial supply chains—particularly in emerging technologies, research and development, and national defense—to jointly respond to the rapidly changing global landscape.

During the exchange, Legislator Hung noted that Japan is currently in negotiations with the U.S. on tariff issues, which serves as an important reference point for Taiwan as it considers its own future strategies. He also expressed his appreciation for the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s frequent assertion that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency.” He voiced strong support for strengthening Taiwan’s national defense and expressed hope for closer Taiwan-Japan ties.

Legislator Huang expressed her admiration to Representative Takaichi, highlighting her remarkable achievements and significant influence, which demonstrate what women can achieve in Japanese politics. She added that the Taiwan People’s Party believes Taiwan can draw valuable insights from Japan’s experience in areas such as economic and energy security. Furthermore, she also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have pushed global supply chains to reorganize. In light of this, she expressed hope that Japan would support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or consider signing a free trade agreement with Taiwan, so the two sides can work together to face the challenges brought by the new U.S. tariffs.

Legislator Chen remarked that U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have indeed had a significant impact on the economic development of U.S. allies. However, senior U.S. officials have also stated that “America first does not mean America alone.” He expressed hope that Taiwan will strengthen cooperation with Japan and other countries along the First Island Chain, particularly in areas such as intelligence sharing, economic security, and maritime resource management, to better address emerging challenges.

President Han concluded by emphasizing that despite the increasingly complex international environment surrounding Taiwan—especially the profound influences from the U.S., China, and Japan—it is his responsibility, as President of the nation’s highest representative body, to help guide the people toward opportunity while avoiding potential risks. He also remarked that every legislator carries the expectations of their constituents and must balance legislative responsibilities, public service, and family life—challenges shared by both Taiwanese and Japanese parliamentarians. President Han expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to engage with members of Japan’s National Diet and voiced hope for deeper collaboration between Taiwan and Japan across various fields to jointly navigate the ever-changing global landscape.

The two sides also exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including youth engagement and party exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. The meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes and concluded on a lively and cordial note with an exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.