Premier Su Tseng-chang on Monday received a Japanese delegation led by Representative Furuya Keiji, chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council. The premier thanked the council for actively promoting friendly Taiwan-Japan relations, and for passing its 2022 basic policy guidelines in March, which stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as well as reaffirmed its support for Taiwan's membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
China has recently been harassing Taiwan by constantly dispatching warplanes and warships to carry out military drills around the Taiwan Strait, the premier said. This has upset the peace of the region and also negatively impacted imports and exports of Japanese energy and goods. Premier Su hopes Chairman Furuya can help uphold Taiwan-Japan relations and maintain regional calm, staving off China's unilateral disruptions of regional peace and stability.
Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan and Japan exchanged millions of visitors each year. As the pandemic abates, Taiwan is making strides toward the opening of its borders; the Central Epidemic Command Center announced Monday that the weekly cap on arrivals has been increased to 50,000 people. The premier believes this not only meets the expectations of the Taiwanese people, but will also be of great benefit for the economy and tourism of Taiwan and Japan, bolstering further exchange and interaction between our citizens.
Chairman Furuya in his remarks said China has been posing significant threats to regional peace and stability with frequent military provocations in recent days. Japan must firmly oppose China's actions, and its Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has strongly denounced and condemned this behavior on many international occasions.
The Japan-ROC Diet Member's Consultative Council has always supported Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), Chairman Furuya said. This is not only based on universal global principles but also involves the health of the people of Taiwan and the world. The fact that Taiwan has previously participated in the WHA as an observer shows that China is completely unreasonable in its opposition. The council also supports Taiwan's accession to the CPTPP.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Japan and Taiwan, the Japan-ROC Diet Member's Consultative Council, which comprises about 260 Diet members from across the political spectrum, can play an important role and forge a bridge of friendship between Japan and Taiwan, Chairman Furuya continued. As chairman, he will do his utmost to push the Japan-Taiwan trust relationship and friendship to a higher level by promoting deeper relations between the two countries.