Taiwan is crucial to Japan’s survival, and the two nations should work together to strengthen supply chains, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Representative Kazuyuki Katayama said.
Katayama made the remarks in an interview with SETN that aired on Saturday, adding that relations should be complementary, with the two sides cooperating to build supply chains that ensure economic security.
“For Japan, Taiwan is of existential importance,” he said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Relations between the two nations have reached a historic high for four main reasons, he said.
First, the two sides are partners that share common values; second, they are important economic partners; third, they maintain close people-to-people and cultural exchanges; and fourth, they are key partners in preserving peace in the Taiwan Strait, which is indispensable to global security and prosperity, Katayama said.
Bilateral ties have developed broadly in areas including the economy, culture, people-to-people exchanges, security and disaster prevention, he said.
“In particular, bilateral ties are increasingly characterized by horizontal cooperation, with each side leveraging its respective strengths,” Katayama said.
“Trust is a crucial foundation of Japan-Taiwan relations, and mutually beneficial cooperation built on trust is essential,” he said.
Asked what message he would like to convey to Taiwanese, Katayama said that during his two years and two months stationed in Taiwan he has become firmly convinced that Taiwan is an extremely important partner for Japan and an irreplaceable friend.
“Taiwan is a free, democratic, stable and developed society that is friendly toward Japan and located in its immediate neighborhood,” he said, adding that the future direction Taiwan-Japan cooperation would have a significant impact on the future course of regional development as a whole.
Commenting on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (台積電) investment in a plant in Kumamoto, Japan, Katayama said the move was a step in the right direction, as Japan and Taiwan should form a complementary relationship by capitalizing on their respective strengths rather than competing with one another.
Taiwan’s strength lies in semiconductor production, accounting for 70 to 90 percent of global output, while Japan has advantages in materials and manufacturing equipment, he said.
“From the perspective of economic security, it is vital to build supply chains and cooperate in cultivating talent from both sides, as well as from third countries,” he said.
Taiwan and Japan signed a digital trade agreement in December last year, which lays the foundation for deeper bilateral cooperation by expanding on an earlier e-commerce agreement, and updating it to reflect future technologies and artificial intelligence, he said.
Regarding areas for further cooperation, Katayama said disaster prevention and relief, environmental energy and public health are challenges jointly faced by Taiwan, Japan and the global community, and areas where the two nations could make strides together.
In addition, cooperation in areas such as drones and the security of undersea cables could enhance economic security and promote development, Katayama said.
OPTIMISTIC: The DGBAS sharply upgraded its GDP growth estimate from 3.54 percent to 7.71 percent after the Taiwan-US trade agreement signing and given AI optimism The US imported more from Taiwan than China for the first time in decades, as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs reshape trade flows while a global boom in artificial intelligence (AI) fuels demand for tech products. US purchases of goods from China plunged almost 44 percent in December last year from 2024 to US$21.1 billion, US Department of Commerce data showed on Thursday. By contrast, shipments from Taiwan more than doubled during the same period to US$24.7 billion. The soaring Taiwanese shipments to the US reflect the huge expansion in supplies of chips and servers for AI companies, which has completely changed
The Central Election Commission has amended election and recall regulations to require elected office candidates to provide proof that they have no Chinese citizenship, a Cabinet report said. The commission on Oct. 29 last year revised the Measures for the Permission of Family-based Residence, Long-term Residence and Settlement of People from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民在台灣地區依親居留長期居留或定居許可辦法), the Executive Yuan said in a report it submitted to the legislature for review. The revision requires Chinese citizens applying for permanent residency to submit notarial documents showing that they have lost their Chinese household record and have renounced — or have never
US and Chinese fighter jets briefly faced off above waters near the Korean Peninsula this week, Yonhap News agency reported, marking a rare confrontation in that area between the two superpowers. About 10 US fighter jets on Wednesday departed an airbase in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, for drills above international waters off South Korea’s western coast, the news outlet cited unidentified military sources as saying. While the US planes did not enter China’s air defense identification zone, Beijing scrambled planes as they neared that region, the report said. “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to monitor and effectively respond
Taiwan has secured another breakthrough in fruit exports, with jujubes, dragon fruit and lychees approved for shipment to the EU, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency on Thursday received formal notification of the approval from the EU, the ministry said, adding that the decision was expected to expand Taiwanese fruit producers’ access to high-end European markets. Taiwan exported 126 tonnes of lychees last year, valued at US$1.48 million, with Japan accounting for 102 tonnes. Other export destinations included New Zealand, Hong Kong, the US and Australia, ministry data showed. Jujube exports totaled 103 tonnes, valued at
RSS