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By Fang Wei-li, Chen Yun and Esme Yeh / Staff reporters, with staff writer
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Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya yesterday suggested establishing exchanges between military bands of Taiwan, Japan and the US.
Furuya, who is also head of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council and chair of the Japanese House of Representatives’ Commission on the Constitution, made the suggestion when attending the Yushan Forum in Taipei.
“This is a purely cultural exchange and China has no right to say anything about it,” he said, adding that it was a symbol of peace.
Japanese lawmaker and chair of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Keiji Furuya gestures during a meeting with President William Lai, not pictured, at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Furuya relayed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s vision that “a nation that does not take on challenges has no future,” adding that Japan is determined to realize a free, open Indo-Pacific Region and safeguard regional stability.
Referring to President William Lai’s (賴清德) remarks that “an era of change is an opportunity,” Furuya said the leaders of Taiwan and Japan share the same vision.
Both sides should tighten their bonds regarding energy security, supply chain resilience, disaster prevention and cybersecurity, he said.
Furuya met with Lai at the Presidential Office afterward.
Sanae’s remarks about a “Taiwan emergency” caused a backlash and increased pressure from China against Japan, he said, adding that her remarks aligned with the Japanese government’s stance.
Japan would strengthen cooperation with countries that have common values to jointly safeguard Taiwan and its democracy amid escalating tensions.
Taiwanese in Japan are allowed to use “Taiwan” as their place of origin in Japan’s family registry from last year, where the measure has been well received and symbolizes Japan’s respect of Taiwanese identity as it upholds the rights and dignity of the 70,000 Taiwanese living in Japan, Furuya said.
Lai said Furuya is one of the most firm and important international friends of Taiwan, as he has promoted Taiwan-Japan parliamentary exchanges for many years and continues to voice support for Taiwan on multiple key issues.
He thanked the Sanae-led Japanese government and parliament for reiterating their commitment to cross-strait peace and stability.
At a news conference held later by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Furuya said that American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene embraced his suggestion of a “trilateral military band exchange” when they met.
Lai was supportive of the idea during yesterday’s meeting, he said.
Such cultural exchanges were already part of the council’s annual exchange plan and it was not the first time it was proposed, Furuya said, adding that the idea was suggested through formal procedures.
Additional reporting by Huang Ching-hsuan
