President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday met with a visiting delegation from the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the Presidential Office, with both sides calling for increased collaborations on security and semiconductors.
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are critical to global security and prosperity, Lai told the delegation led by Director of the division Yasutaka Nakasone, who is also a member of the Japanese House of Representatives.
Lai said both sides should have more exchanges in areas that facilitate stability across the broader Indo-Pacific region, without elaborating.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
The President also called for deeper collaboration in the semiconductor sector, following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) venture in the Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto.
TSMC’s first factory in Kumamoto began mass production last December, and a second plant is under construction.
Taiwan’s strength in manufacturing and Japan’s advantages in materials, equipment and technology enables the two sides to complement each other, Lai added.
Meanwhile, Nakasone echoed Lai’s views, noting that semiconductor cooperation between Taiwan and Japan benefits both sides amid global economic turbulence brought about by US President Donald Trump.
In addition, Japan recognizes the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and will work to raise global awareness of the issue, he said.
Nakasone’s delegation arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for a five-day visit, according to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, marking the second Japanese group to visit Taiwan in a week, following a delegation led by Japanese Diet member and former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Nakasone’s delegation also includes House of Representatives members Shojiro Hiranuma, Taku Nemoto and Kaoru Fukuda, and House of Councillors member Masayuki Kamiya.
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility