《TAIPEI TIMES》Speaker You to lead delegation to Yonaguni

JAPANESE NEIGHBOR: You Si-kun said a trial program for direct ferry services linking Yilan and the Japanese island would be conducted, with a goal to draw more tourists

By Su Yung-yao and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

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Legislative Speaker You Si-kun （游錫堃） yesterday said that he would head a delegation to Japan’s Yonaguni Island on July 4 and would return to Yilan County with Japanese Representative Keiji Furuya.

You last month mentioned the possibility of direct ferry services between Yonaguni and Yilan’s Suao Township （蘇澳） during a meeting with a delegation of Liberal Democratic Party members representing Kumamoto City, as well as a delegation led by Japanese Representative Shinsuke Okuno.

You yesterday during an interview on Pop Radio said a trial program for direct ferry services between the two destinations would be conducted during the recess period of the Japanese Diet.

The trial program would test the route and if proven viable, it could bring more Japanese tourists to Taiwan, while benefiting the economy of Yonaguni island, he said.

Legislative Yuan Secretary-General Lin Chih-chia （林志嘉） is in charge of coordinating cross-department talks, You said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications have been notified about the project.

The Yilan County Government and the Suao Township （蘇澳） Office have been invited to participate in planning the trial, he said.

Taiwan and Japan are like brothers and have supported each other through hardships, but many people on both sides are unaware that they have territory so close to each other, You said.

He urged more Japanese to visit the westernmost reaches of Japan — Yonaguni Island.

It is a short trip from Yonaguni to Yilan, he said, adding that Japanese could visit Taiwan if they extend their Yonaguni trip by one day.

Taiwan’s ties with other democratic nations have improved greatly over the past few years, You said, citing trips last year to the Czech Republic, Lithuania and France.

The host countries arranged security details for visiting Taiwanese officials and flew the nation’s flag at their legislative bodies during the visits, treating Taiwan like nations with which they have official diplomatic ties, You said.

Such a thing has not happened before, he said, adding that previous visits by Taiwanese officials were almost treated like private affairs.

Taiwanese must be more conscious of national defense issues to assure friendly nations that the nation can protect its democracy, he said, adding that Taiwanese should have more faith in the government’s ability to keep Taiwan safe.

If Taiwan were to express concern over the possibility of a war across the Taiwan Strait, Chinese President Xi Jinping （習近平） might become more dismissive of the nation and increase his resolve to invade, You said, adding that if Taiwanese remain strong, Beijing would be more cautious.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES