On August 22, 2024, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda led a delegation to meet with President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lai Ching-te in the afternoon. President Lai expressed his hope to deepen the economic and trade partnership between Taiwan and Japan, as well as jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability. Noda expressed Japan’s welcome towards Taiwan’s application to join the CPTPP.
President Lai Ching-te welcomed former Japanese Prime Minister and senior advisor of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Yoshihiko Noda, and the visiting delegation during the audience in the afternoon of the 21st. He also thanked Noda for serving as the keynote speaker at the “Ketagalan Forum.” President Lai mentioned his previous visit to Japan in May 2019, where he had the opportunity to meet with former Prime Minister Noda and was pleased to have the chance for another exchange on this occasion.
During their previous meeting, Noda had expressed Japan’s gratitude for Taiwan’s support during a major earthquake, which resonated with the Japanese people. President Lai also acknowledged Japan’s donation of millions of vaccine doses to Taiwan during the pandemic, highlighting the solidarity in overcoming the challenges brought by the outbreak. He expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Taiwanese people for Japan’s support, particularly in the aftermath of the Hualien earthquake, where the Japanese government and various sectors generously donated to aid Taiwan.
“Taiwan and Japan share a deep friendship and are important partners to each other,” stated President Lai Ching-te. He believed that Taiwan and Japan could enhance cooperation in various fields such as disaster prevention, economic and trade matters, and security issues through increased exchanges.
President Lai outlined that amid the expansion of authoritarianism, the Japanese government has been strengthening its self-defense capabilities and enhancing cooperation with other countries to construct a multilayered regional defense network, showcasing their determination to uphold international order. He expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and friends from Japan, including former Prime Minister Noda, for their attention to and support for the security of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan will continue to enhance its defense capabilities and collaborate with Japan to jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.
President Lai emphasized his commitment to position Taiwan as the “Island of Artificial Intelligence” since taking office. He pointed out significant cooperation opportunities between Taiwan and Japan in areas like semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and next-generation communication. Taiwan looks forward to signing a bilateral economic partnership agreement with Japan to deepen economic and trade relations. Taiwan also actively seeks to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), hoping that the visiting dignitaries can exert their influence to provide continued support and assistance to Taiwan.
President Lai Ching-te conveyed gratitude once again to former Prime Minister Noda and the esteemed guests for their visit, expressing the collective effort to elevate Taiwan-Japan cooperation and drive progress and development together.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, in his speech, expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to dine with President Lai during his visit to Japan in 2019 and extended congratulations to President Lai on his inauguration on May 20 of this year. Noda noted President Lai’s emphasis on “peace” in his inauguration speech and expressed his belief in President Lai’s leadership capabilities and Japan’s willingness to assist.
Noda mentioned that during his keynote speech at the Ketagalan Forum earlier that day, he reiterated Japan’s support for Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA). Regarding Taiwan’s application to join the CPTPP, Japan expressed its welcome.
Noda emphasized in his speech the importance that Japan and the international community place on the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, opposing unilateral changes to the status quo through the use of force, and advocating for peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, promising continued advocacy in the international arena.
The Japanese delegation that day also included Japanese lawmakers Hitoshi Tezuka and Shunsuke Ito, accompanied by Wu Chi-chung, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Kuniyuki Katayama, Representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office, and Fan Zhengguo, Secretary-General of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, for the meeting with President Lai at the Presidential Office; with Secretary-General Pan Meng-an of the Presidential Office also present.