To mark its 15th anniversary, the Taiwan Society of Japan Studies (TSJS) co-hosted a celebratory forum and symposium on Taiwan-Japan relations with Radio Taiwan International (Rti) on Thursday. Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Deputy Secretary-General Lin Yu-hui (林郁慧) and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama both highlighted the complex challenges facing the two sides and emphasized the need for deeper cooperation in both economic and security sectors.

Lin noted that over the past 15 years, Taiwan and Japan have built strong ties across trade, education, and tourism. The two have supported each other through natural disasters and pandemics, and there is still vast room for collaboration in key areas such as semiconductors, energy, artificial intelligence, and drones.

Katayama pointed out that from the standpoint of economic security and defense policy, Japan and Taiwan must develop joint strategies to ensure stability and prosperity. He said this is especially important as global conditions grow more complex, citing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He also stressed the need to carefully assess U.S. policy in East Asia under the Trump administration.

Rti President Chang Jui-chang (張瑞昌) remarked that the shift in Taiwan-Japan relations is evident in two key indicators. One is former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency.” The other is former Ambassador of Taiwan to Japan Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) push for a “virtuous cycle” in bilateral ties.