President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with Japanese House of Representatives Member and Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Furuya Keiji at the Presidential Office on the morning of March 16. Lai thanked Furuya for his long-term leadership of the council in promoting parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, and for consistently advocating for Taiwan on many important issues, demonstrating his unwavering support.

The President noted that in recent years, China's authoritarian influence has been expanding, exerting pressure not only on Taiwan but also posing a serious challenge to the region. He expressed his special gratitude to the Japanese government and parliament, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for repeatedly expressing their commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He added that Furuya's invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Yushan Forum demonstrates the Japanese Parliament's support and attention to Taiwan, making him one of Taiwan's most steadfast and important international friends.

The President emphasized that in response to the expansion of authoritarian forces, the Taiwanese government has proposed an eight-year, nearly US$40 billion special defense budget to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. He also expressed Taiwan's hope to deepen its partnerships with Japan and other democratic partners to jointly safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Furuya said that, to prevent conflicts such as a "Taiwan emergency," Japan will continue to strengthen cooperation with countries that share the same values ​​to jointly safeguard Taiwan and its democracy, and maintain peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.