A delegation of legislators from the Japanese Diet came to Taiwan to pay respects to former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) on Tuesday. The delegation led by legislator Hiroshige Sekō (世耕弘成) was made up of members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The legislators were from the LDP’s faction known as Seiwakai, which had previously been led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was assassinated by a gunman last July.
Seko said in a speech that President Lee had devoted himself to Taiwan-Japan relations during his lifetime and laid an important foundation for bilateral relations.
President Lee had a unique history with Japan. He was born during the Japanese colonial period, served in the Japanese military in WWII, and spoke fluent Japanese. He was also the first president to be democratically elected in Taiwan, which is why he is sometimes referred to as Mr. Democracy.