Nearly four in five Japanese respondents to a recent poll have expressed a positive view of Taiwan. The survey found that 78% of respondents ‘felt close’ to Taiwan, while 68% described Taiwan as ‘trustworthy’.

A similar survey in Japan last year found that 90% of respondents had a negative impression of China.

Respondents gave a number of reasons for their positive feelings towards Taiwan. These included: the friendliness of Taiwanese people, the countries’ shared history, and the fact that many Taiwanese can speak Japanese.

Responses also praised Taiwan’s cuisine and its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The opinion poll was paid for by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan. It surveyed 1,000 people between the ages of 20 and 89 online and via telephone in November last year.