《TAIPEI TIMES》 Japanese lawmaker backs more links

By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter

Visiting Japanese lawmaker Shinsuke Okuno yesterday called for legislation to deepen ties with Taiwan, while Legislative Speaker You Si-kun promoted economic relations with the Japanese island of Yonaguni.

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You met with a delegation comprising Okuno and three other members of the Japanese House of Representatives, one of four delegations from Japan visiting Taiwan this week.

Okuno said that he visits Taiwan once or twice a year and this time brought younger lawmakers with him so they could learn more about the country.

The economy plays an important part in the Taiwan-Japan relationship, he said, adding that he has gained a sense during the trip about how eager Taiwan is to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership （CPTPP）.

Japan should follow the US’ example and draw up its own version of the Taiwan Relations Act, which would provide the basis for bilateral ties, he said.

With such legislation, “any kind of help Japan provides to Taiwan would not be denied or criticized,” Okuno said.

You thanked the delegation for its support of Taiwan and expressed special gratitude for Okuno’s attendance at the first strategic forum for Taiwanese, US and Japanese lawmakers in 2021.

He also asked that his thanks be passed on to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his efforts to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Kishida at a G7 summit in Nagano Prefecture’s Karuizawa last month voiced concern about the cross-strait situation and said that Japan’s position on the Taiwan issue is consistent — any issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, You said.

The geographical proximity of Taiwan and Japan is best demonstrated by the 111km separating Okinawa Prefecture’s Yonaguni and Yilan County, his hometown, You said.

Hopefully, direct ferry services can be launched between Yilan’s Suao Township （蘇澳） and Yonaguni, he said.

The route would allow more visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery on Japan’s westernmost territory, revitalize the island’s economic development and deepen ties between the two countries, he said.

If one-10th of the 2 million Japanese who visit Taiwan visit the island via Yilan, the benefits would be substantial, he said.

You announced a plan to lead a delegation to visit Yonaguni on June 10 and invited the delegation members to join him.

He also shared the proposal with delegations led by Japanese lawmaker Tetsushi Sakamoto and Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division Director Norikazu Suzuki on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Sakamoto and Suzuki said that they would work to make the plan reality.

Okuno’s delegation also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu （吳釗燮）.

The ministry said in a press release that Okuno promised to urge his government to support Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP.

The visit demonstrated the Japanese Diet’s firm support for Taiwan and could help Japan better understand the threat of authoritarianism to regional security, it said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES