President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday awarded a veteran pro-Taiwan Japanese lawmaker a government honor in recognition of his decades-long efforts to promote closer Taiwan-Japan relations.
Lai presented Japanese Representative Keiji Furuya, head of the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council, with the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon at the Presidential Office in recognition of his contributions to enhancing bilateral ties.
In his address, Lai praised Furuya, a senior member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party who has served in the Japanese House of Representatives since 1990, as a driving force behind friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan.
Photo: CNA
Furuya helped facilitate exhibitions by the National Palace Museum in Japan and advocated for Japan to allow Taiwanese nationals married to Japanese citizens to list their place of origin as “Taiwan” instead of “China” in Japan’s official family registry, the president said.
Earlier this year, the association, formerly known as the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, was renamed to use the word “Taiwan” instead of the initials for the Republic of China, Lai said, describing the change as the latest example of Furuya’s efforts to deepen bilateral relations.
Accepting the honor, Furuya, whose council comprises 323 Diet members from across party lines, pledged to continue promoting friendly exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.
Because of his longstanding support for Taiwan and his frequent visits to the country — most recently in early March — the Chinese government announced sanctions against Furuya in April.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Furuya was colluding with “separatist forces” in Taiwan, saying his visits to the country were made “in defiance of China’s strong opposition.”
Furuya yesterday said that Beijing’s sanctions had “absolutely no impact” on him, as he has not visited China in decades and holds no assets there.
It was ironic for China to claim Taiwan as part of its territory while simultaneously imposing sanctions on foreign politicians for visiting Taiwan, he said.
The sanctions exemplify Beijing’s use of coercive measures against those who support Taiwan, Furuya said.
Partners such as Taiwan and Japan, which share the values of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights, should further deepen their cooperation, he added.
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