Lai calls for closer cooperation in meeting with Japan parliamentary group

• By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

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President William Lai (賴清德) on Tuesday met with a Japanese cross-party parliamentary group, with both sides calling for closer Taiwan-Japan cooperation, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

During the meeting with the Diet Members’ Association for Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait, Lai said that he believed the group would would draw greater attention in the Diet to issues concerning the Taiwan Strait and help advance former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

China’s continued military exercises, “gray zone” tactics and transnational repression pose a compound threat to Taiwan and undermine regional security, Lai said, urging Japan and other democracies to join Taiwan in enhancing their defense and deterrence capabilities to safeguard democracy, peace and prosperity.

President William Lai, right, and Japanese lawmaker Haruo Kitamura toast each other during a meeting at the Presidential Office in Taipei on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office

Taiwan’s defense spending has reached 3 percent of GDP this year and would remain above that level next year, with spending expected to reach 5 percent by 2030, he said.

Taiwan is also working to bolster its defense industry and boost its artificial intelligence and drone capabilities, he said, adding that the nation is developing a resilient, all-out national defense system.

Lai said he looked forward to deepening Taiwan-Japan cooperation on national strategy, economic and trade security, and high-tech industries.

The delegation was led by Haruo Kitamura, a member of the Japanese House of Councilors from the Conservative Party of Japan.

The delegation’s visit aimed to turn the Taiwan-Japan friendship into concrete action and continue moving bilateral relations forward, Kitamura said.

Taiwan had demonstrated its friendship with Japan by sending disaster-relief teams and raising ¥25 billion (US$162.73 million) in donations after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Kitamura said.

If Taiwan faces a crisis, Japan would do everything in its power to stand with the nation, he said, adding that Taiwan and Japan must show their determination to support and defend friends in times of need.

Kitamura said he would promote Japanese versions of the US’ Taiwan Travel Act and Taiwan Relations Act, facilitate senior government exchanges and advance defense cooperation.

He also said he would rally like-minded lawmakers to lobby the Japanese government for improved Taiwan-Japan ties and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Separately, Japanese lawmaker Seki Hei, also known by his Chinese name Shi Ping (石平), yesterday said that he supports restoring diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Japan and establishing an alliance, including a trilateral alliance with the US.

Speaking at the Taiwan-Japan Foreign Affairs and Defense Forum in Taipei, Shih said that the US-Japan alliance is important to Japan and regional peace, but insufficient to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and across East and Southeast Asia.

“The US-Japan alliance is missing a crucial leg, and that leg is Taiwan,” Shih said, adding that an ideal alliance would bring the US, Japan and Taiwan together to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Shih said he would promote a Japanese version of the Taiwan Relations Act to bolster bilateral cooperation.

He also urged Taiwan and Japan to abandon any illusions about the CCP and jointly defend freedom and shared values, adding that “any compromise with the Chinese Communist Party will lead to our own destruction.”