Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, stressed the importance and closeness of Taiwan-Japan-US security cooperation during a luncheon with Japanese bipartisan lawmakers from the “Diet Members’ League for Considering Japan’s Security,” on the 14th. He pointed out Taiwan’s strategic location as the first island chain and the necessity for like-minded countries to jointly face threats.
Minister Joseph Wu welcomed the visit of the Japanese bipartisan lawmaker delegation to Taiwan in a Facebook post, stating that on the 14th, he hosted a luncheon for the visiting group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegation was led by former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara. Members included lawmakers Moto Taniya, Akio Miyajima, Chikashi Watanabe, and Keiro Kitagami. In the morning of the 14th, he accompanied the delegation to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, exchanging views on important Taiwan-Japan issues.
During the luncheon, Minister Joseph Wu expressed concern over the 7.1 earthquake in Kyushu, Japan, and thanked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his steadfast support for Taiwan during his tenure, which had deepened the Taiwan-Japan relationship.
President Tsai Ing-wen, at a meeting with the “Diet Members’ League for Considering Japan’s Security” on the 13th, emphasized that the Taiwanese government will implement the “Four Pillars of Peace” action plan, strengthen national defense capabilities, economic resilience, and work together with democratic partners to uphold a “democratic protection umbrella,” safeguarding the values of democracy and freedom for regional peace and stability.
Minister Joseph Wu mentioned that Taiwan and Japan share proximity in geography and close ties in trade, culture, and tourism cooperation in recent years. Both countries uphold universal values of democracy, freedom, and peace. In the face of authoritarian expansion and regional threats in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan and Japan face common challenges. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once said, “If something happens in Taiwan, it is as if something happened in Japan, which is equivalent to the US-Japan alliance being affected,” highlighting the importance and closeness of Taiwan-Japan-US security cooperation.
Minister Joseph Wu also discussed with the delegation the challenges Taiwan faces in international diplomacy and the need to expand diplomatic space through diverse means. He emphasized that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry plays a crucial role globally and that Taiwan must utilize and expand this economic advantage. Given Taiwan’s strategic geopolitical location in the first island chain, ensuring national defense readiness requires forming alliances with like-minded countries to jointly confront threats.
“Taiwan-Japan bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been close in recent years, especially in areas such as semiconductor industry collaboration. Taiwanese companies, such as TSMC, have set up fabrication plants in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, with UMC and Powerchip Technology establishing 12-inch wafer plants. Moreover, we look forward to deepening cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in high technology, net-zero transformation, public health, and medical sectors,” Minister Joseph Wu said.
Minister Joseph Wu mentioned that Taiwan’s economic and trade exchanges with Europe, Japan, the United States, and countries in the New Southbound Policy have seen significant growth. Initiatives such as the completion of the “Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement” and ongoing second-stage negotiations, as well as the passage of the “U.S.-Taiwan Double Taxation Rapid Rescission Act,” and agreements with the UK and Canada to enhance trade partnership and investment promotion, have been achieved. They also hope that Japan will continue to support Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to create prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Minister Joseph Wu stated that Taiwan will uphold the spirit of mutual assistance and cooperation with allied and like-minded countries to face various challenges together. He also expressed hope that Taiwan-Japan relations will advance to a higher level with more substantial cooperation efforts for global prosperity and development.