TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung DPP lawmakers on Friday encouraged Taiwanese to travel to Japan in support of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae after her remarks linking Taiwan and Japan’s security.
DPP Lawmaker Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) held a press conference with colleagues Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑), Huang Jie (黃捷), Li Po-yi (李柏毅), and Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵), per CNA. They sampled Japanese apples and oranges as a show of solidarity.
Chiu proposed four measures to support Japan: use the NT$10,000 (US$318) stipend for trips to Japan, offer NT$1,000 airline discounts, launch joint travel programs, and coordinate subsidies through local government and private organizations, per Liberty Times.
Hsu noted Taiwan and Japan’s long-standing friendship, citing President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) eating Japanese seafood and Takaichi visiting late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s statue in Kaohsiung’s Baoan Temple in Fengshan District.
Lin said now is the time to deepen economic and industrial cooperation, arguing that Taiwan should diversify risks in response to Chinese economic pressure, just as Abe supported Taiwanese pineapples amid sanctions.
Chiu added that supporting Japan mirrors Abe’s gesture for Taiwan, showing solidarity as peace-loving neighbors while China attempts to stir disputes.
Huang and Li stressed that Taiwan cannot leave Japan alone. They called for stronger city-level collaboration to counter China’s economic measures.
