Taiwan looks forward to working with Japan to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and to continue their deepening partnership, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday, as he congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her reappointment by parliament to form her second Cabinet.
Takaichi enjoys a strong base of public support and has long been a vocal supporter of Taiwan, a ministry statement quoted Lin as saying.
During her tenure as chair of the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) Policy Research Council, she pushed to include backing Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the WHO in the party’s legislative election platform, Lin said.
Photo: Screen grab from Lin Chia-lung’s Facebook page
Before being elected LDP president last year, Takaichi led a delegation to Taiwan and met with President William Lai (賴清德), Lin said.
Since taking office as prime minister, she has highlighted at multiple major international forums the vital importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he added.
The Japanese government has consistently placed great importance on the stable development of Taiwan-Japan relations, Lin said, adding that after this year’s House of Representatives election, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi has said that Tokyo would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan based on its existing position.
Taiwan and Japan are key partners along the first island chain, and Taiwan looks forward to working with Japan to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and to continue deepening a comprehensive, mutually beneficial partnership, jointly contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, Lin said.
Later yesterday evening, President William Lai (賴清德) in a post on X congratulated Takaichi on her reappointment as Japan's prime minister.
"I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her successful reelection, and thank her for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and expressing support for Taiwan at major international occasions," Lai wrote in Chinese and Japanese.
"I look forward to Taiwan and Japan continuing to deepen their partnership and working together to contribute to the realization of a 'free and open Indo-Pacific.'"
Additional reporting by CNA
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