Backlash after Hiroshima leaves Taiwan out of diplomatic seating
Backlash after Hiroshima leaves Taiwan out of diplomatic seating
2026-08-10
A diplomatic snub at Nagasaki’s atomic bomb memorial is sparking outrage in Taiwan and Japan. Taiwan’s representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, skipped the ceremony after learning he would be seated outside the diplomatic section. That’s despite Taiwan receiving diplomatic treatment just days earlier in Hiroshima. Now, critics are accusing Nagasaki of putting its ties with China ahead of its friendship with Taiwan, turning a dispute over seats into a question of national dignity.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae laid a wreath at Nagasaki’s Atomic Bomb Peace Memorial Ceremony, calling for nuclear disarmament and world peace. Taiwan’s representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, declined to attend the event after learning he would not be seated with diplomatic delegations. Taiwan’s Fukuoka Office director-general attended in his place.
Akio Yaita, head of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, slammed Nagasaki City on Facebook, accusing the city of staying silent as China expands its nuclear arsenal while belittling Taiwan, a staunch supporter of Japan. He said the problem went beyond seating arrangements, affecting Taiwan’s national dignity and warning that hurting a true friend would only benefit Japan’s adversaries.
Only a few days earlier at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, Taiwanese officials had been seated in the area for diplomatic delegations. But at Nagasaki, Taiwan was placed in the “overseas groups” section meant for civic groups. Japanese netizens were outraged. One user wrote, “As a Japanese person, I feel ashamed. They came all the way from Taiwan, and when Japan faced difficulties, Taiwan provided a great deal of assistance. I’m sorry, Taiwan.” Another said, “I cannot tolerate what Nagasaki has done. This does not represent the consensus of all Japanese people. It is a problem with the Nagasaki mayor personally.”
Rosalia Wu
Lawmaker (DPP)
The Nagasaki City Government may have made these arrangements, which hurt Taiwan’s national dignity, due to its longstanding relationship with China. Nagasaki shouldn’t side with China, which is expanding its nuclear arsenal and disrupting peace. It shouldn’t undermine the strong trust and friendship between Taiwan and Japan. We hope Nagasaki will handle this in the same way Hiroshima did.
Chen Gau-tzu
Lawmaker (TPP)
We support Representative Lee Yi-yang in how he protested by taking action.
Amid the backlash, Nagasaki said that due to the limited seating, officials who could not be accommodated in the diplomatic section had to be assigned to the overseas section. Officials stressed that the arrangements for Taiwan were the same as last year, and stated they had not intended to downgrade Taiwan’s status. But considering Taiwan’s reception in Hiroshima, the explanation may still not convince critics.
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#diplomacy #hiroshima #nagasaki #history #japan #japanese #taiwan
長崎市府澄清"無矮化意圖" 日網:無法容忍對台差別待遇
2026-08-10
日本長崎市政府在週日舉行原爆和平紀念典禮，把台灣代表座位排在使節團之外，駐日代表李逸洋拒絕出席，並發聲明抗議長崎市刻意矮化台灣國格。現在輿論發酵，印太戰略智庫執行長矢板明夫在臉書發文，痛批長崎高喊和平，卻去迎合不斷武力威脅台灣的北京政府，根本是本末倒置。
日本首相高市早苗緩緩走上前獻上花圈致意，長崎市在9號舉行原爆和平紀念典禮，原本該是倡議非核武、世界和平的活動，我國駐日代表李逸洋，卻遭矮化，被安排在非使節區，因而拒絕出席、改由駐福岡辦事處長參加。
印太戰略智庫執行長矢板明夫，在臉書上撻伐長崎市府，面對中國擴張核武不敢發聲，反而矮化真正支持日本的台灣，根本是本末倒置，並且強調，這早已不是"座位問題"，而是台灣的國家尊嚴問題，不能置之不理，如此傷害真正支持日本的朋友，只會親者痛、仇者快。
事實上，幾天前的廣島紀念典禮，我國是被安排在具備官方外交禮遇的"使節團區，但長崎市府卻作法不同，將台灣安排在"海外團"，形同把台灣當作一般民間單位，這差別待遇的作法，讓日本網友也看不下去，”身為日本人，我感到羞愧，人家特地從台灣遠道而來，而且在日本遭遇困難時，他們曾經給予了大量的援助，對不起台灣”、還有”無法容忍長崎市的這項行為，這並非全體日本人的共識，而是長崎市長個人的問題。”
[[立委(民) 吳思瑤]]
“長崎市政府恐怕長期以來基於跟中國的關係，做出了傷害台灣國格的這些外交安排。長崎市政府不應當跟核武擴張、破壞和平的中國站在一起，而來傷害了台日友好的這些堅定信任，我們也希望長崎市政府能夠像廣島一樣的處置。”
[[立委(民眾) 陳昭姿]]
“我們是支持李逸洋代表，就是說先用行動，來代表抗議。”
面對外界抨擊，長崎市政府回應，因為座位有限，無法容納的公使與參事官才會安排到海外席，強調今年替台灣準備的與去年相同，絕對不存在刻意降低台灣層級的意圖，只不過這樣的解釋，對比廣島的大方禮遇，恐怕還是難以說服外界。
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