Three-quarters of Japanese responding to a recent poll commissioned by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that relations between Taiwan and Japan were good, and more than 60 percent said they were interested in visiting Taiwan.
The poll, conducted by US-based polling company Gallup between April 10 and April 19, was part of the ministry's efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, an official said.
The survey showed that 76 percent of respondents found Taiwan and Japan relations “good,” of which 11 percent labeled bilateral ties as “very good” and 56 percent said they felt close to Taiwan.
While 61 percent of Japanese respondents expressed an interest in visiting Taiwan, 82 percent said they had never visited the country.
Asked to choose more than one area where bilateral exchanges should be further promoted, 82 percent chose “tourism,” 79 percent cited “culture,” 76 percent “the economy,” 72 percent “youth exchanges” and 59 percent “politics.”
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Japan, the two countries have traditionally maintained very close relations.
The high level of travel between the two countries also reflects close bilateral relations, with an average of 2.5 million people traveling between the two countries each year.
The poll was conducted by telephone and interviewed 1,000 Japanese over the age of 20.
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