Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party have held a second round of virtual talks. On Friday, two representatives from each of the parties met virtually to discuss international affairs and economic policy.
Attention in Taiwan has focused on how the two sides would address Taiwan’s continued ban on food products from parts of Japan affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The issue is a continued source of friction between Taiwan and Japan. So far, Taiwan has not set forward a timetable for lifting the ban, despite Japanese urging. Notably, both representatives from Japan’s ruling party come from areas that are subject to the food import ban.
After the meeting, one of the Democratic Progressive Party representatives, lawmaker Lo Chih-Cheng, told reporters that the issue of the ban had come up during the discussion. He said that he understands Japan’s stance, especially because his Japanese wife also comes from the area subject to the ban.
However, he said that during the meeting, he told his Japanese counterparts that Taiwan will put the health and safety of its people first, and will use science to address the issue of lifting the ban.