President Lai Thanks Japan's Ruling and Opposition Parties for Supporting Taiwan After China's Pressure on His Visit
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude to Japan's government and parliament for their support of Taiwan and condemnation of China's unreasonable suppression, after China's pressure led to a temporary postponement of his visit to Eswatini. This highlights the close ties between Taiwan and Japan and Japan's commitment to regional peace.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 22:52
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Taipei 6th) President Lai Ching-te said today that in April, due to pressure from China, he had temporarily postponed his visit to diplomatic ally Eswatini. The Japanese government publicly stated that ensuring flight safety is an important common interest of the international community, and Japanese ruling and opposition parliamentarians publicly condemned China's unreasonable suppression at the first instance. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese government and parliament for their firm support of Taiwan.
The Presidential Office stated in a press release tonight that President Lai, during his meeting with Mr. Sumi Shuzo, Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, said that the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association have long played important roles in Taiwan-Japan exchanges. The two sides have not only overcome various difficulties and restrictions together, building many bridges for exchange, but have also signed over 100 cooperation memorandums in various fields such as economy, trade, culture, tourism, education, and sports.
He said that last December, Mr. Sumi Shuzo led a delegation to attend the Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference, where the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement and a memorandum of cooperation on regional customs were signed, laying a deeper foundation for cooperation in Taiwan-Japan economic and trade exchanges. He hopes to leverage Mr. Sumi Shuzo's influence to promote further deepening of economic, trade, and various other cooperations between Taiwan and Japan, creating a win-win situation.
President Lai also reiterated his gratitude to the Japanese government for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in international forums. He said that in March this year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump held a summit, and after the meeting, the US reaffirmed in its fact sheet that the US and Japanese leaders are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, viewing it as an indispensable element for regional security and global prosperity, which greatly encouraged the people of Taiwan.
He mentioned that in April, due to pressure from China, he had temporarily postponed his visit to Eswatini. The Japanese government also publicly stated that ensuring flight safety is an important common interest of the international community, and Japanese ruling and opposition parliamentarians publicly condemned China's unreasonable suppression and bullying at the first instance. He once again expressed his most heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese government and parliament for their firm stance and actions in supporting Taiwan, which demonstrates Japan's firm commitment to regional peace and stability.
The President also mentioned that Prime Minister Takaichi, in her speech during her visit to Vietnam last week, proposed an upgraded version of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) strategy. Whether it is strengthening supply chain resilience, promoting AI research and development, or expanding security cooperation, these are important forces for future peace, stability, and prosperous development in the Indo-Pacific, which is admirable.
The President said that Mr. Sumi Shuzo will also attend the memorial service for engineer Yoichi Hatta in Tainan during this trip, and he looks forward to commemorating engineer Hatta's contributions together.
In his address, Mr. Sumi Shuzo first congratulated President Lai on successfully completing his visit to Eswatini and safely returning to Taiwan. He said that since his visit to Taiwan last December, Taiwan-Japan relations have continued to deepen. In February this year, Prime Minister Takaichi met with TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei, announcing that the JASM (Kumamoto TSMC) factory in Kumamoto will start 3nm semiconductor production in 2028. This not only symbolizes closer Taiwan-Japan relations but also shows that both sides will further deepen cooperation and development in the semiconductor field.
He mentioned that the current international situation is increasingly complex and uncertain, including developments in regions such as Ukraine and Iran. He believes that partnerships with shared values are becoming increasingly important, and Taiwan and Japan must continue to strengthen various cooperations. Taiwan and Japan have long established a stable and solid foundation of mutual trust. In the economic field, both sides have already started cooperation in important industries such as semiconductors, AI, and ICT, and these areas will become indispensable core elements for future social development.
Mr. Sumi Shuzo said that in January this year, Kaohsiung hosted the "Japan-Taiwan Disaster Prevention Cooperation Forum," where both sides conducted in-depth discussions on various disaster prevention cooperation issues. He believes that Taiwan and Japan will have further space for cooperation and development in the field of disaster prevention in the future. He looks forward to more Japanese friends visiting Taiwan in the future to personally experience the beauty of Taiwan, and also hopes to continue promoting cooperation in various fields between Taiwan and Japan, deepening various partnerships. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Taipei 6th) President Lai Ching-te said today that in April, due to pressure from China, he had temporarily postponed his visit to diplomatic ally Eswatini. The Japanese government publicly stated that ensuring flight safety is an important common interest of the international community, and Japanese ruling and opposition parliamentarians publicly condemned China's unreasonable suppression at the first instance. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese government and parliament for their firm support of Taiwan.
The Presidential Office stated in a press release tonight that President Lai, during his meeting with Mr. Sumi Shuzo, Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, said that the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association have long played important roles in Taiwan-Japan exchanges. The two sides have not only overcome various difficulties and restrictions together, building many bridges for exchange, but have also signed over 100 cooperation memorandums in various fields such as economy, trade, culture, tourism, education, and sports.
He said that last December, Mr. Sumi Shuzo led a delegation to attend the Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference, where the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement and a memorandum of cooperation on regional customs were signed, laying a deeper foundation for cooperation in Taiwan-Japan economic and trade exchanges. He hopes to leverage Mr. Sumi Shuzo's influence to promote further deepening of economic, trade, and various other cooperations between Taiwan and Japan, creating a win-win situation.
President Lai also reiterated his gratitude to the Japanese government for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in international forums. He said that in March this year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump held a summit, and after the meeting, the US reaffirmed in its fact sheet that the US and Japanese leaders are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, viewing it as an indispensable element for regional security and global prosperity, which greatly encouraged the people of Taiwan.
He mentioned that in April, due to pressure from China, he had temporarily postponed his visit to Eswatini. The Japanese government also publicly stated that ensuring flight safety is an important common interest of the international community, and Japanese ruling and opposition parliamentarians publicly condemned China's unreasonable suppression and bullying at the first instance. He once again expressed his most heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese government and parliament for their firm stance and actions in supporting Taiwan, which demonstrates Japan's firm commitment to regional peace and stability.
The President also mentioned that Prime Minister Takaichi, in her speech during her visit to Vietnam last week, proposed an upgraded version of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) strategy. Whether it is strengthening supply chain resilience, promoting AI research and development, or expanding security cooperation, these are important forces for future peace, stability, and prosperous development in the Indo-Pacific, which is admirable.
The President said that Mr. Sumi Shuzo will also attend the memorial service for engineer Yoichi Hatta in Tainan during this trip, and he looks forward to commemorating engineer Hatta's contributions together.
In his address, Mr. Sumi Shuzo first congratulated President Lai on successfully completing his visit to Eswatini and safely returning to Taiwan. He said that since his visit to Taiwan last December, Taiwan-Japan relations have continued to deepen. In February this year, Prime Minister Takaichi met with TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei, announcing that the JASM (Kumamoto TSMC) factory in Kumamoto will start 3nm semiconductor production in 2028. This not only symbolizes closer Taiwan-Japan relations but also shows that both sides will further deepen cooperation and development in the semiconductor field.
He mentioned that the current international situation is increasingly complex and uncertain, including developments in regions such as Ukraine and Iran. He believes that partnerships with shared values are becoming increasingly important, and Taiwan and Japan must continue to strengthen various cooperations. Taiwan and Japan have long established a stable and solid foundation of mutual trust. In the economic field, both sides have already started cooperation in important industries such as semiconductors, AI, and ICT, and these areas will become indispensable core elements for future social development.
Mr. Sumi Shuzo said that in January this year, Kaohsiung hosted the "Japan-Taiwan Disaster Prevention Cooperation Forum," where both sides conducted in-depth discussions on various disaster prevention cooperation issues. He believes that Taiwan and Japan will have further space for cooperation and development in the field of disaster prevention in the future. He looks forward to more Japanese friends visiting Taiwan in the future to personally experience the beauty of Taiwan, and also hopes to continue promoting cooperation in various fields between Taiwan and Japan, deepening various partnerships. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.