Japan officials at Ketagalan Forum stress importance of peace in Taiwan Strait

2022-07-26

The annual dialogue on Asia-Pacific security, the Ketagalan Forum kicked off on Tuesday. President Tsai Ing-wen took the opportunity to thank former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his contributions to the region. She also emphasized Taiwan’’s commitment to its defense and self-reliance. The forum was attended by scholars and politicians from several countries who discussed regional security, and Taiwan’’s key role as a regional democratic partner.

Through a prerecorded video, President Tsai Ing-wen spoke at this year’s Ketagalan Forum on the topic of security in the Indo-Pacific. Tsai thanked former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his contributions on the matter.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
The former prime minister laid the foundation for stronger regional partnership. Thanks to him, we are better able to uphold the democratic, rules-based order.

In her address to academics from the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia, Tsai underscored the indispensible nature of Taiwan as a regional partner on democracy. She said Taiwan would continue to strive toward progress on defense self-reliance, and the strengthening of its national defense.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
We have set up new facilities to advance domestic development of naval vessels. We have also taken steps to bolster our reserve forces, and we have made substantial investments to enhance our asymmetric warfare capabilities. Together, these efforts are accelerating our progress toward self-sufficiency in national defense.

Kono Taro
Former Japanese minister of defense
How the United States, together with like-minded countries can defend Taiwan from Chinese aggression is the question we need to answer now. If China uses forces against Taiwan, whether we choose or not, Japan will be affected.

Unable to travel to Taiwan due to a COVID infection, former Japanese Defense Minister Kono Taro addressed the forum via video conference, saying that Chinese use of force against Taiwan would impact Japan. Meanwhile, Japanese MP Suzuki Keisuke made his ninth trip to Taiwan to attend the forum in person. In a tweet made the day before, Suzuki said he had experienced his first Wanan air defense drill. Unable to be outside for 30 minutes during the drill was a somber reminder of the threat Taiwan faces, he wrote.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Japan’s latest defense white paper contains 10 pages on Taiwan. This is unprecedented in Japanese history. That is, Japan putting this opposition to China’s use of force to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait into its defense policy. It’s a clear signal.

Japan’s participation at the Ketagalan Forum, and its emphasis on Taiwan in its defense policy reflect a clear development in Japanese policy, and reflect the solid state of Taiwan-Japan relations.

凱達格蘭論壇登場蔡總統感謝安倍對印太貢獻

2022-07-26

一年一度的「凱達格蘭論壇」今天登場，以「印太安全對話」為主題，總統蔡英文以錄影方式致詞，強調台灣將努力加速國防自主進程，保衛自己的國家。也特別感謝已故的前日本首相安倍晉三，對印太區域和平穩定的貢獻。

透過預錄影片，蔡英文總統在今年、以「印太安全對話」為主題的「凱達格蘭論壇」上致詞，特別感謝已故的前日本首相安倍晉三。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“安倍前首相奠定了堅實基礎，強化區域夥伴關係，因為他的努力，讓我們得以守護民主，及以規則為基礎的國際秩序”

在美、歐、日、澳等政學界貴賓前，蔡總統也強調，台灣是印太地區不可或缺的民主夥伴，將努力加速國防自主的進度，強化自我防衛能力。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“我們建置新設施，推動國艦國造，也強化後備戰力，以及增加投資以提升不對稱作戰能力，這些努力加速我們邁向國防自主的進程”

[[日本前防衛大臣河野太郎]]
“美國如何與理念相近國家一起，防衛台灣受到中國侵略，是我們現在必須回答的問題，如果中國以武力侵台，不論如何，日本都會受到影響”

因確診不便來台，前日本防長河野太郎以視訊發表演說，重申「台灣有事、就是日本有事」。第9度訪台的、日本眾議員鈴木馨祐則親自與會，前一天還在推特上PO出，體驗到台北的「萬安演習」，當警報聲響起、民眾被禁止外出30分鐘，認為這就是「台灣的危機感」。

[[國防院軍事戰略暨產業所長蘇紫雲]]
“從日本最新的"防衛白皮書"看得出來，對於台灣的敘述，超過了10頁的篇幅，也史無前例地，就是把反對中國，用武力改變台海現狀，放入國防政策之內，這都是很明確的一個訊號”

專家指出，從日方與會，以及新版「防衛白皮書」關注台海情勢，不只呼應安倍生前倡議，也凸顯台日間的關係更為緊密。