On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry announced that the anticipated number of Japanese guests attending Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony on May 20 has reached a historic high, leaving them unable to extend an invitation to all of the prefectural leaders. Among the uninvited is Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki.
Earlier this month, the Foreign Ministry expressed that a large number of special envoys and dignitaries would be attending the 16th inauguration ceremony, including high-ranking Japanese government officials. An estimated total of 400 guests are expected to attend the ceremony, of which approximately 140 are from Japan. This caught the attention of the Japanese media when Tamaki spoke out saying that he had not been invited. Some outlets pointed out that Tamaki had previously rejected comments made by the Japanese prime minister about Taiwan’s security concerns being inseparable from Japan’s.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry stated they are unable to invite all 47 Japanese prefectural governors to the event. Ministry’s Spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) warmly welcomes the other distinguished Japanese guests to attend the celebratory event at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan also held on May 20. The ministry speaks highly of the prominent Japanese presence, saying that it demonstrates Japan’s high regard for Taiwan’s new government.