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Japan Times
16-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan is by far the favorite country among Taiwanese: survey
More than 75% of Taiwanese say that Japan is their favorite country, followed by South Korea at just 4% and both China and the U.S. on 3%, according to a regular survey released Tuesday by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. The survey, conducted in December and January among 1,520 Taiwanese living in Taiwan between the ages of 20 and 80, comes as concern rises in both Japan and Taiwan over Beijing's aggression in the Taiwan Strait. Japan has been the most popular country since the survey began in 2008, with 76% of respondents picking it this year — up 16 points from 2022. Neither South Korea nor China or the U.S. have ever surpassed 8% in the favorability rankings. South Korea came in second place for the first time, as China's popularity fell 2 percentage points to 3%. While more than 70% of all age groups said that Japan was their favorite country, the highest support — 82% — came from respondents in their 30s. The sharpest increase in favorability was among respondents between the ages of 50 and 64 at 74%, up 27 percentage points from 2022. Although the survey did not ask respondents why they like Japan so much, it did ask why they think Japan-Taiwan relations are improving. The most cited reason, at 29%, was that 'Japan-Taiwan relations appeared to be positive in media coverage, online information and personal observations.' It also asked respondents why they could trust Japan, with 66% reasoning that the two countries 'share similar values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law." As for which aspects of Japan respondents were interested in, travel (59%) topped the list, followed by culinary culture (58%), traditional culture (41%), nature (33%) and the Japanese spirit and philosophy (33%). Japan-Taiwan relations have grown closer in recent months, with Taiwan naming Japan's ex-SDF chief as a Cabinet consultant and Taiwan's No. 2 diplomat seeking higher-level 'unofficial' Japan meetings . In February, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te met with Yuichiro Tamaki , head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, and discussed industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, including collaboration in the semiconductor sector. Lai also met with Akie Abe, wife of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, thanking her for speaking on the Taiwan Strait issue at the Halifax International Security Forum in Taipei. Citing remarks made by her husband in the past, Abe said that a crisis in Taiwan is a crisis for Japan. In September, Taiwan lifted import bans on mushrooms, game meat and koshiabura — a mountain vegetable — from five Japanese prefectures affected by the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear disaster: Fukushima, Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The move is seen as a step toward joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework, which includes Japan.
Japan Times
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Taiwan President Lai meets with Akie Abe, widow of slain prime minister
Taipei – Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has met with Akie Abe, wife of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Taipei. Lai told Akie at the meeting Friday that Taiwan aims to protect the values of freedom and democracy, and deepen its friendship with Japan, inheriting the philosophy and spirit of the former Japanese leader, according to the Taiwanese presidential office. He also noted that Akie, who visited the United States last December, moved the Taiwanese people by speaking for Taiwan over the Taiwan Strait issue. Taiwan is ready to make contributions to world and regional peace and prosperity in cooperation with Japan, the United States and others, Lai added. Also on Friday, Akie delivered a speech at a meeting of the Halifax International Security Forum held in the Taiwanese capital. Citing her husband's remark that a crisis in Taiwan is a crisis in Japan, Akie said that he had wished for peace in this region more than anyone else. Lai visited Japan in 2022, when he was vice president of Taiwan, to attend the former prime minister's funeral. Akie took part in Lai's presidential inauguration ceremony in May 2024.
Iraqi News
20-02-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
US support for Taiwan remains 'very strong,' Taiwanese official says
INA- SOURCES Support from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for Taiwan remains "very strong" and Taiwan is looking at more purchases from the country, including LNG, to help balance trade, a senior Taiwan security official said on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly criticised Taiwan for taking U.S. semiconductor business, saying he wants the industry to re-base to the United States. He has also threatened broad import tariffs on countries which have unbalanced trade with the United States, which could affect Taiwan, given the large trade surplus it runs. Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Taipei, Joseph Wu, head of Taiwan's National Security Council, said the island had many friends in the new administration, especially in the security and defence apparatus. "The Trump administration support for Taiwan remains very strong," he said. "I think Taiwan is in a good position." Asked about Trump's comments on chips, Wu said that Taiwan's TSMC, the dominant maker of advanced semiconductors, started from scratch. "We didn't steal anything from anybody. Taiwan has been very honest in doing business with the international community," he said. Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the United States, which surged 83% last year, with the island's exports to the U.S. hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors. Taiwan is discussing what else it can buy from the United States, Wu said. "If the United States has a very good product Taiwan happens to need, then it will be (among) the items that we will be thinking about," he added. Liquefied natural gas, of LNG, is one area the government is already considering, especially from Alaska, though most of Taiwan's supplies at present come from Qatar and Australia. Wu said U.S. LNG was very high quality, but coming from existing suppliers Texas and Louisiana, it took longer to reach Taiwan given it had to go via the Panama Canal. "If Alaska starts producing LNG in big numbers, that will be a very good time for us to buy more and we are in discussion with Alaska now," he said, without giving details.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US support for Taiwan remains 'very strong,' Taiwanese official says
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Support from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for Taiwan remains "very strong" and Taiwan is looking at more purchases from the country, including LNG, to help balance trade, a senior Taiwan security official said on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly criticised Taiwan for taking U.S. semiconductor business, saying he wants the industry to re-base to the United States. He has also threatened broad import tariffs on countries which have unbalanced trade with the United States, which could affect Taiwan, given the large trade surplus it runs. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Taipei, Joseph Wu, head of Taiwan's National Security Council, said the island had many friends in the new administration, especially in the security and defence apparatus. "The Trump administration support for Taiwan remains very strong," he said. "I think Taiwan is in a good position." Asked about Trump's comments on chips, Wu said that Taiwan's TSMC, the dominant maker of advanced semiconductors, started from scratch. "We didn't steal anything from anybody. Taiwan has been very honest in doing business with the international community," he said. Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the United States, which surged 83% last year, with the island's exports to the U.S. hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors. Taiwan is discussing what else it can buy from the United States, Wu said. "If the United States has a very good product Taiwan happens to need, then it will be (among) the items that we will be thinking about," he added. Liquefied natural gas, of LNG, is one area the government is already considering, especially from Alaska, though most of Taiwan's supplies at present come from Qatar and Australia. Wu said U.S. LNG was very high quality, but coming from existing suppliers Texas and Louisiana, it took longer to reach Taiwan given it had to go via the Panama Canal. "If Alaska starts producing LNG in big numbers, that will be a very good time for us to buy more and we are in discussion with Alaska now," he said, without giving details.
Reuters
20-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US support for Taiwan remains 'very strong,' Taiwanese official says
TAIPEI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Support from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for Taiwan remains "very strong" and Taiwan is looking at more purchases from the country, including LNG, to help balance trade, a senior Taiwan security official said on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly criticised Taiwan for taking U.S. semiconductor business, saying he wants the industry to re-base to the United States. He has also threatened broad import tariffs on countries which have unbalanced trade with the United States, which could affect Taiwan, given the large trade surplus it runs. Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Taipei, Joseph Wu, head of Taiwan's National Security Council, said the island had many friends in the new administration, especially in the security and defence apparatus. "The Trump administration support for Taiwan remains very strong," he said. "I think Taiwan is in a good position." Asked about Trump's comments on chips, Wu said that Taiwan's TSMC ( opens new tab, the dominant maker of advanced semiconductors, started from scratch. "We didn't steal anything from anybody. Taiwan has been very honest in doing business with the international community," he said. Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the United States, which surged 83% last year, with the island's exports to the U.S. hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors. Taiwan is discussing what else it can buy from the United States, Wu said. "If the United States has a very good product Taiwan happens to need, then it will be (among) the items that we will be thinking about," he added. Liquefied natural gas, of LNG, is one area the government is already considering, especially from Alaska, though most of Taiwan's supplies at present come from Qatar and Australia. Wu said U.S. LNG was very high quality, but coming from existing suppliers Texas and Louisiana, it took longer to reach Taiwan given it had to go via the Panama Canal. "If Alaska starts producing LNG in big numbers, that will be a very good time for us to buy more and we are in discussion with Alaska now," he said, without giving details.
