Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mourns Late Yasuo Fukuda, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Yoshiro Mori, the 91st Prime Minister of Japan, passed away on October 22 due to illness at the age of 90. The Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today, noting that Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung has expressed condolences to the Japanese Representative Office in Taiwan and instructed the office to convey the government’s and the people’s messages of sympathy to the late Prime Minister’s family. This gesture not only demonstrates Taiwan’s respect for international friends but also reflects its nuanced diplomatic acumen on the international stage.

Yoshiro Mori served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998. During his tenure, he promoted the "Mori Policy," which advocated for Japan to play a more active role in East Asia and was committed to enhancing economic and security cooperation between Japan and Southeast Asian nations. While in office, Mori also valued unofficial relations with Taiwan, participating multiple times in cross-strait economic and trade exchanges in his capacity as a diplomat. He advocated for support of Taiwan within Japan, laying the foundation for the easing of cross-strait relations and Japan-Taiwan cooperation. His passing is a significant loss for Japan and the entire Asian region.

Relations between Taiwan and Japan have evolved over several decades. Although formal diplomatic ties have not been established due to the complexities of international politics, the two sides maintain close interactions in the fields of economy, technology, culture, and security. Japan is a key trading partner for Taiwan, with the two sides benefiting from complementary strengths in industries such as semiconductors and electronic components. In recent years, in response to the military expansion and geopolitical pressure from mainland China, Japan has also strengthened its defense assistance and information sharing with Taiwan. The two sides continue to engage on platforms such as the "Trilateral Security Dialogue." Taiwan’s expression of condolences to Mori can be viewed as an affirmation of Japan’s contributions to Taiwan’s security and economic sectors, further consolidating the foundation for cooperation between the two sides in an uncertain environment.

Lin Chia-lung has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2016, having previously held positions such as Mayor of Taichung and Deputy Governor of the Taiwan Provincial Government, possessing extensive experience in both international and local administration. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he is responsible for coordinating Taiwan’s various diplomatic affairs on the international stage, including maintaining ties with unofficial diplomatic partners. Minister Lin’s instruction to the Japanese Representative Office to convey condolences indicates that Taiwan continues to prioritize "human sentiment and etiquette" in its external relations, thereby conveying the respect and sorrow of the Taiwanese people for Mori. It also implies that Taiwan maintains good relations with various countries on the international stage based on "respect and reciprocity."

Taiwan faces the challenge of "diplomatic isolation" in the international community, with many countries refraining from establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan due to the "One China Principle." However, Taiwan maintains substantive interactions with numerous countries through unofficial representative offices and economic and cultural offices. Although the Japanese Representative Office in Taiwan is not a formal embassy, it plays a vital role in bilateral relations, responsible for coordinating affairs in multiple fields including trade, technology, and culture. The act of conveying condolence messages to Mori’s family also reflects the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ trust in and spirit of cooperation with the Japanese Representative Office, further strengthening communication and coordination between the two sides through unofficial channels.

The passing of Yoshiro Mori is not only a major event in Japanese politics but also serves as a reminder of the mutual interdependence between Taiwan and Japan in the realms of geopolitics and economic security. Through Minister Lin’s instructions and the transmission by the Japanese Representative Office, Taiwan has demonstrated its respect and friendship toward international friends, highlighting that even in a volatile international environment, Taiwan can maintain its relationship with key partners by placing equal emphasis on etiquette and practical cooperation. In the future, Taiwan will continue to exert influence on the diplomatic stage, promote cooperation with important partners such as Japan, and contribute to cross-strait peace and regional stability. (Source: Central News Agency)