Taipei: Japan's top representative to Taiwan emphasized the need for joint efforts between Japan and Taiwan to address security and economic challenges posed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Focus Taiwan, Kazuyuki Katayama, head of the Taipei office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, highlighted the importance of deepening economic and technological cooperation between Japan and Taiwan during an event in Taipei. This event marked the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Taiwan Society of Japan Studies (TSJS). Katayama noted the critical connections between Japanese companies and their Taiwanese counterparts, which encompass mutual investments, research and development, and talent exchanges.
The envoy pointed out the mutual security and economic challenges faced by Japan and Taiwan due to a complex global situation and policies emanating from the Trump White House that require careful evaluation. He stressed the necessity for Japan and Taiwan to devise more sophisticated responsive measures to these challenges.
Discussions between Japan and Taiwan are ongoing regarding their cooperation to establish an era of stability and prosperity. However, Katayama did not provide further details on the specifics of these discussions.
Lin Yu-hui, deputy head of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the event. Lin highlighted the support Japan and Taiwan have extended to each other during natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that there is ample room for cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, along with like-minded countries, in fields such as semiconductors, energy, artificial intelligence, and drones.
The TSJS, inaugurated in 2009 by Taiwanese political scientist Lin Bih-jaw, aims to promote research on Japan's politics, diplomacy, economics, society, and culture, and to nurture young researchers in Taiwan specializing in Japan studies.