112.11.1. (國際處022)

游錫堃：泉裕泰大使任內 台日關係空前友好

YOU Si-kun：In The Tenure of Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu Taiwan-Japan Relations Reached An Unprecedented Height

立法院游錫堃院長今(1)日晚間6時許在林志嘉秘書長及國際事務處林晨富處長陪同下，出席「日本台灣交流協會台北事務所」舉辦之泉裕泰代表離任酒會。監察院陳菊院長、國家安全會議顧立雄秘書長、行政院鄭文燦副院長、「台日關係協會」蘇嘉全會長、外交部吳釗夑部長等多位行政院部會首長、台北市蔣萬安市長、以及各國駐台使節代表、國內各界人士近300位嘉賓應邀出席，共襄盛會。

At 6 p.m. of November 1, 2023, President You Si-kun accompanied by Secretary General Lin Jih-jia and International Affairs Department Director Calvin C.F. Lin attended the farewell party of Chief Representative of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Izumi Hiroyasu. The Control Yuan President Chen Chu, National Security Council Secretary General Wellington Koo, Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Chairman Su Jia-chyuan, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, cabinet members, Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an, members of diplomatic corps and other distinguished guests were present. A total of 300 participants were present.

泉裕泰代表首先上台致詞，他對於上（10）月30日榮獲蔡英文總統頒贈「大綬景星勳章」表達由衷感謝，表示會將此勳章當成傳家之寶，好好收藏。同時也對他派駐台灣4年期間照顧和支持他的各位貴賓及台灣各界友人致上最誠摯的謝意。

Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu took the floor first. He was grateful to President Tsai for conferring the Brilliant Star Medal with grand Cordon upon him on October 30. He stated that this medal will become a family treasure. He expressed his utmost appreciation to all distinguished guests and friends for their assistance and support during his four-year tenure in Taiwan.

他繼表示，外交官生涯雖將劃下句點，但最後4年獲得台灣政府、經濟、文化等各界人士的協助，工作非常愉快。日本能有像台灣如此的友好鄰居，他覺得自己是所有駐台外交官中最幸福的一位。

He continued to state that his diplomatic career was coming to an end, but during the last four years of his career, he received the assistance from the government of Taiwan, friends from various communities of economics and culture, he had a fond memory here. Japan is so fortunate to have a such good neighbor like Taiwan. He felt he was one of the most fortunate diplomats stationed in Taiwan.

泉裕泰代表接著藉用今天這個最後的舞台，一一介紹並感謝在背後一直默默支持他的太太正子女士，以及「日本台灣交流協會」一群並肩努力的「日台團隊」所有重要工作夥伴。他也心有所感表示，相當感謝2年前過世的父親，透過母親轉述給他的最後的一句話：「不要放著台灣的工作不管而回家，完成任務最重要」。父親喪禮他雖無法出席，但也常有父親仍在世的錯覺，如今已90高齡的母親，最是期待他的歸國團聚。對於能順利完成駐台任務，他感到如釋重負及深深的滿足與感謝。

Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu took the opportunity to thank his wife Masako for her support and all partners in the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association for their hard work. He emotionally thanked his late father that passed away two years ago. Through his mother, his last words were asking Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu not to go back to Japan with so many important tasks to complete Taiwan. Although he did not attend the funeral, he felt he was still alive. His 90-year old mother is the one that looks forward for his return. He felt such a great relief to accomplish an important task, and was full of content and gratitude.

泉代表繼表示，在台4年期間，他觀察到世界看台灣的態度有非常大的轉變。世界供應鏈的重建、新冠肺炎危機、烏克蘭情勢等與國際情勢變化的連動，加深世界對台灣的正確認知，如同蔡英文總統在今年雙十國慶演說中表示，台灣已是「世界的台灣」，台灣越來越有自信，世界更加看見了台灣，他認為這是蔡英文政府所獲得的重要外交成果。另一方面，他也目擊了香港施行國安法後，「時代革命」的火炬一個接一個的熄滅，為守住自由與民主，受到壓迫的青年們逃亡世界各地。但他相信下一個世代一定是屬於像香港一樣年輕人的時代。

He continued to state that over the past four years, he found there was a dramatic change of how the world views Taiwan. The reconstruction of global supply chain, pandemic crisis, Ukraine situation and other international situation changes deepen the correct global view of Taiwan. As President Tsai's national day address, Taiwan is a Taiwan of the world. The more confident Taiwan is, the more the world will see Taiwan. He believed this is a major diplomatic achievement of the Tsai administration. By contrast, he also witnessed Hong Kong's epical revolution torch had been extinguished one after another after the National Security Act was implemented. In order to defend freedom and democracy, repressed youth fled to various countries. Despite of it, he still believed that next generation will belong to the ones like Hong Kong’s young people.

他接著提到，他駐台期間台、日相繼失去李登輝前總統及安倍前首相兩位全力支持台日關係的支柱，讓大家好像失去引導走向未來的指南針，一時不知所措，但是現在台日一同堅強地站了起來，更加強化雙邊關係，他認為台灣的重要性也將與日俱增。即使有更大的試煉到來，相信台灣的人民將勇敢地掌控自己的未來。

He also stated that during his mission in Taiwan, Japan lost two pillars that supported Taiwan-Japan relations former President Lee Teng-hui and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Out of sudden, everyone was lost without knowing what to do. Fortunately, both Taiwan and Japan strongly stand up to further enhance bilateral relations. He believed that Taiwan will become increasingly important. Even there will be more trials ahead, I believe the people of Taiwan will bravely choose their own future.

泉裕泰代表繼表示，蔡英文總統在雙十節演說中提到，我們要自己保護自己，用堅毅的精神掌握我們自己的未來與命運。愛好並尊重自由與民主的台灣，做出對國際社會不可或缺的貢獻。面對充滿危機的時代，台灣的人們絕不可分裂，一定要更加團結，表現出守住自己的民主與自由的強烈意識，並繼續貢獻國際社會，這對台灣未來比什麼都重要。

He then pointed out that President Tsai mentioned in her national day address that we need to protect ourselves. We will control our future and destiny with unwavering spirit. Taiwan upholds and respects freedom and democracy will make indispensible contributions to the international community. Facing crisis, the people of Taiwan shall not divide and should be more united. Her statement showed her strong will to safeguard democracy and freedom to continue to contribute to the international community. This is the most important thing for Taiwan’s future.

  他最後簡單介紹未來繼任的駐台代表是日本國前駐秘魯的片山大使，他是位很優秀的外交官且精通中文，據說熱愛語言，也許抵台後也會挑戰學習台語，相信他一定會盡全力扮演台灣與日本橋樑的角色。泉裕泰代表最後再度表達對台灣的堅定支持和深厚友誼，並誠摯地跟在場貴賓及台灣道別。

He concluded with a simple introduction of his successor Kazuyuki Katayama is a former ambassador to Peru. He is an outstanding diplomatic, proficient in Chinese, and likes to learn different languages. Probably he will learn Taiwanese when he arrives. He believed the ambassador will do his best to play the role of bridge between Taiwan and Japan. Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu once again expressed his firm support and cordial friendship with Taiwan. He sincerely bid farewell to all distinguished guests and Taiwan.

游院長接續致詞表示，首先代表台灣國會恭賀泉裕泰大使榮退，並對他對任內對深化台日關係的卓越貢獻表示敬意。但也對泉裕代表的離任表示不捨，並稱他是台灣永遠的朋友。游院長繼稱，泉大使於2019年11月來台履新，2020年元月23日中國武漢封城後，台日間許多交流被迫中斷，但泉裕泰持節駐台4年期間，台日雙邊關係空前友好。他舉出三點證明台日關係從未如現在這般密切友好。第一，2021年3月，中國蠻橫禁止台灣鳳梨出口時，幸好有泉裕泰大使挺身而出，把鳳梨推廣到日本，他還在臉書上幫忙推銷，不僅幫了台灣農民，還讓日本成為台灣鳳梨最大出口國。第二，2021年5月，當台灣疫情升溫、嚴重短缺疫苗時，在泉裕泰大使及我國駐日謝長廷代表的共同努力下，促成了日本前後共有6批次向台灣無償捐贈總計420萬劑疫苗，台灣政府及人民均銘感五內。第三，2021年12月日本安倍前首相表示：「台灣有事就是日本有事，就是美日同盟有事」，這句話對台灣幫助極大。今年4月19日，韓國尹錫悅總統公開表示「台灣議題就是全球議題，我們堅決反對武力改變現狀」。5月5日菲律賓總統小馬可仕也表明「若台灣遭受攻擊，菲律賓的基地將會有用處」。隨後，岸田首相於5月10日亦表示台灣安全為全球議題。在短短一個月內，看到許多週邊國家領袖同聲發表堅定挺台的言論，振奮人心。及至8月1日，法國馬克宏總統頒布「7年建軍法」，明文提到將捍衛台灣海峽及南海等印太區域的航行自由。這些均是安倍前首相談話後所引發的一連串正面連鎖反應。因此，游院長認為泉裕泰大使在台4年期間，台日關係是「歷史上最好的時候」。院長最後表示泉裕泰大使是台灣永遠的朋友，大家將非常想念他，也盼他未來多多回台敘舊。

President YOU continued to state that since Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu took office in November 2019, exchanges between Taiwan and Japan was forced to disrupt due to the lack down of Wuhan of China on January 23, 2020. However during his four-year tenure, bilateral relations reached an unprecedented height. President YOU cited three examples to demonstrate the unprecedented cordial relations. First, in March 2021 when China blatantly banned Taiwan’s pineapples to export to China, thanks to the chief representative to help to promote them in Japan. He helped promoting on Facebook, which not only helped Taiwan’s farmers, but also making Japan become the largest export destination of Taiwan’s pineapples. Second, in May 2021 when the pandemic was tense in Taiwan in short of vaccines, with the joint efforts of the chief representative and Ambassador Hsieh Chang-ting, a total of 4.2 million vaccine doses in six batches were provided to Taiwan. The government and people of Taiwan are grateful for that. Third, former Prime Minister Abe stated “A contingence of Taiwan is a contingence for Japan and for US-Japan alliance.” in December 2021. His statement helped Taiwan tremendously. On April 19 this year, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol openly stated that issues related Taiwan are global issues and opposed unilateral change of status quo with force. On May 5, the Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. stated Philippines bases could be useful if Taiwan attacked. The Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that Taiwan’s security is a global issue on May 10. Within a short one month, leaders of Taiwan’s neighboring countries issued statement to support Taiwan, which is encouraging. On August 1, French President Emmanuel Macron enacted Military Programming Law (LPM) 2024-2030, specifically referring to defend the freedom of navigation of the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. All of these statements are the chain reaction of former Prime Minister Abe’s proposal. Therefore, President You believed that during the four-year tenure of the chief representative, Taiwan-Japan relations are at the best in history. The president concluded his remarks by saying that Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu is Taiwan’s friend forever. We will miss him very much, so please do come back as often as you can.

游院長致詞結束後，為了表達對「知台、友台、愛台」的泉裕泰代表崇高的敬意與謝意，特別用他毛筆親筆寫下「厚德載物」四字製成的紀念磁盤致贈予泉大使，感謝他用深厚德行，真誠對待台灣。

After President YOU’s remarks, in recognition of Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu’s utmost respect and appreciation, President You wrote a calligraphy of a man of good virtue can shoulder more responsibility on a commemorative plate to the chief Representative in recognition of his sincere friendship to Taiwan not only understanding Taiwan, but also friendly to Taiwan and love Taiwan.

鄭文燦副院長及蘇嘉全會長嗣接續上台致詞，最後與游院長泉裕泰大使在台上邀全體與會嘉賓共同舉杯，向泉大使道珍重再見。酒會隨後展開，全場氣氛溫馨、輕鬆愉快，歷約2個小時後圓滿結束。

Vice Premier Chen Wen-tsan and Chairman Su Jia-chyuan took the floor one after another. In the end, President You and Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu proposed a toast to all distinguished guests to bid farewell followed by the party with warm and relaxing atmosphere. The party concluded after two hours.