President Tsai speaks with a delegation from Japan on security cooperation

2022-07-28

A cross-party delegation from Japan is in Taiwan talking defense and security. The delegation of four includes three former defense officials. A recent Japanese defense white paper spoke of the importance of Taiwan’s defense, and this is something former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo also emphasized. Now with a Japanese delegation in Taiwan discussing specifics, it appears Abe’s plans for Taiwan-Japan cooperation on defense may be starting to take shape.

Meeting with a Japanese delegation to discuss security issues, President Tsai Ing-wen again brought up former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In regard to the deep friendship that Taiwan and Japan have been able to build, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo played a key role in that. Abe unfortunately left us at the start of this month, and that’s been hard for everyone. Many Taiwanese have expressed grief over his loss, and feel deeply that he will forever be a friend of Taiwan.

Ishiba Shigeru
Former Japanese defense minister
That unfortunate event will not shake Japan’s democracy and democratic system, and our discourse will not succumb to violence. That will absolutely not happen in Japan.

Those comments were made by member of the Japanese House of Representatives Ishiba Shigeru. In the four-member Japanese delegation, two members are former defense ministers, and one once served as deputy defense minister. Their visit to Taiwan is aimed at discussing regional security. Ishiba expressed regret that defense-minded Abe was unable to see his objectives through before his untimely death. He expressed a resolve to continue Abe’s mission. He said he hoped to sign a bilateral agreement on cooperation with Taiwan during his trip.

Ishiba Shigeru
Former Japanese defense minister
What we are talking about is, what kinds of regional situations might develop, and then after those developments, what kinds of treaties or laws will be invoked. Or, what kinds of weapons systems or forces do we need to put in place to put up a resistance. These are all things that need to be discussed in advance, and we need to reach a consensus.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Taiwan is an important member of international society. We know that safeguarding Taiwan is not just about safeguarding sovereignty, more importantly it’s about regional strategic security. Taiwan is very important to the defense of the first island chain. We will continue to deepen cooperation with Japan and other democratic partners, working together to protect peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The security of Taiwan is inextricably intertwined with that of Japan. Abe once said that a contingency in Taiwan is a contingency in Japan. His successors are applying that mindset to their own policies, bringing Taiwan and Japan closer together.

日前防衛大臣訪台蔡總統接見交流安全議題

2022-07-28

日本跨黨派國會議員組成的「思考日本安全保障議員之會」來台訪問，與我國官方及智庫交流區域安全議題。蔡總統今天接見訪團時表示，台灣位於第一島鏈上關鍵的防線，會深化與日本的合作，維護印太和平穩定。日本眾議員石破茂則強調，必須事先設想這個區域會發生什麼事，應該先協商好該用什麼樣的武裝部隊對抗，取得共識。

接見日本訪團"思考日本安全保障議員之會"，總統蔡英文再度提及日前驟逝的日本前首相安倍晉三。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“台日之前能夠建立深厚的友誼，安倍晉三前首相的支持和付出，扮演關鍵的角色。在這個月初安倍前首相不幸離世，令人難過不捨，許多台灣民眾都表達哀悼，也都深深地覺得，安倍前首相是台灣永遠的好朋友。”

[[日本前防衛大臣石破茂]]
“不會因為這一次的事件，日本的民主主義跟民主制度就動搖，言論也不會屈服於暴力之下，這在日本也絕對不會發生。”

代表發言的，是日本眾議員石破茂，這一團四位議員當中，有兩位當過防衛大臣，一位曾任防衛副大臣，訪台目的就是要針對區域安全議題交流。石破茂表示，安倍的遺志很遺憾無法完成，他願意就安倍的理念，肩負相對應責任，持續推動，此行期盼建立台日合作契機。

[[日本前防衛大臣石破茂]]
“也就是說事先設想，在這個地區會發生什麼樣的事態，然後發生事態之後，我們要根據什麼樣的條約，或根據什麼樣的法律，或者是要運用什麼樣的武裝部隊來對抗，這些問題我們必須要事先共同協商，必須要取得共識。”

[[總統蔡英文]]
“台灣作為國際社會重要的一員，我們知道守護台灣不只是為了守護主權，也更是因為就區域戰略安全而言，台灣是第一島鏈上非常關鍵的防線。我們會跟日本以及其他民主夥伴，繼續深化合作，共同維護印太區域的和平穩定。”

台日安全息息相關，安倍所說台灣有事等同日本有事，等同日美同盟有事，不光只是區域戰略概念，台日合作正在持續擴大。