Former Premier Frank Hsieh has arrived in Tokyo to take up his position as Taiwan’s new representative to Japan. He was greeted at the airport by Japan Interchange Association President Imai Tadashi. That association is Japan’s top body charting ties with Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic relations.
In an interview upon his arrival, Hsieh said that Taiwan and Japan have long had friendly ties. He said that his predecessors had paved the way for close economic and cultural exchanges. Hsieh said that he would work to forge even closer ties, in what Taiwan’s president – Tsai Ing-wen – has called a new era of Taiwan-Japan ties.
During remarks before his departure, Hsieh said that he would not disappoint President Tsai.
“The goal is to oversee strong ties between Japan and Taiwan," said Hsieh. "Historically, Japan-Taiwan relations have been very close, especially in recent years, in light of humanitarian efforts. We have developed a virtuous cycle: when disasters have taken place in Taiwan, they have immediately sent aid; and when they’ve had [disasters] we’ve rushed over [with aid]. I think this is an excellent example of humanitarian assistance, and that the whole world should be that way. [President Tsai] hopes that we can build on that foundation and both strengthen and deepen our ties.”
One of Hsieh’s first tasks upon taking office will be to oversee visits to Japan by Tainan Mayor William Lai and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu. The two mayors are set to visit Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit by a powerful series of earthquakes in mid-April. Those quakes left nearly 50 dead and thousands injured.
Hsieh says he will fly to Kumamoto on Friday morning to meet with the two mayors.