Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Wednesday expressed heartfelt appreciation for the friendship and special support that Taiwan showed Japan in the wake of the March 11 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan.
Noda’s statement was the first time that the Japanese government has formally expressed appreciation to Taiwan through the Diet. Noda’s Cabinet was formed on Sept. 2.
He said on Tuesday, the first day of an extraordinary session of the Diet, that Japan would repay the kindness shown by the international community in the wake of the March 11 earthquake.
Noda made the remarks in response to questions from parliamentarian Yoshihisa Furugawa of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who said that Taiwan has provided sincere and unique assistance and Japan should express sincere appreciation. Furugawa said he did not bring it up for diplomatic reasons, but because he was a thankful individual.
“The Japanese government has deliberately ignored the sincerity of a close friend. Japan should repay sincerity with sincerity, which I think is the true Japanese spirit,” Furugawa said.
If you really feel in your heart that you believe in Japan, and speak of the pride of the Japanese, “we hope that you will do everything to safeguard Japan’s honor as the priority,” Furugawa said. “Japanese are not cowards who don’t know how to convey gratitude and repay the kindness.”
Noda said he appreciated the warmth shown toward Japanese nationals by the international community after the disastrous earthquake.
“Former [Japanese] prime minister Naoto Kan expressed appreciation to the Taiwanese authorities under President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for their assistance. In addition, Japan has expressed appreciation through our Web page and newspaper ads,” Noda said. “Although the Japanese government has expressed appreciation in an appropriate form, I want to express my deep, sincere appreciation for the assistance and warm friendship from Taiwan again.”
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