Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement on “If Taiwan Has Issues” has heightened tensions in China-Japan relations, leading to mass cancellations of mainland Chinese tour groups to Japan and causing losses to Japan’s tourism industry. DPP legislators from Taiwan including Chiu Yi-Ying and Hsu Chih-Chieh have called on the public to travel to Japan to help Japan get through these tough times.
According to Taiwanese media, legislators including Chiu Yi-Ying and Hsu Chih-Chieh from Kaohsiung jointly held a press conference on the 21st, urging the people of Taiwan to seize the opportunity of the populist NT$10,000 cash handout to travel to Japan more. They also suggested that the Ministry of Tourism and China Airlines could offer discounts on airfare and tourism promotions in order to jointly support Japan and help it overcome its difficulties.
Chiu Yi-Ying stated that she, along with a number of legislators from Kaohsiung, jointly launched the “Kaohsiung (city) Supports Kamikawa (Takaichi)” initiative. She also suggested that the Kaohsiung city government and both official and private organizations should become fully involved and consider a subsidy plan for Taiwanese traveling to Japan, in order to expand Taiwan’s support for Japan.
Chiu Yi-Ying said that this is just like when Taiwanese agricultural products were boycotted by mainland China, and Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first to eat Taiwan pineapples—it's the same logic. She said that both Taiwan and Japan are peace-loving; therefore, if Japan is in trouble, Taiwan is in trouble too. Brothers and sisters should support and help each other and mutually care for one another.
Hung Chieh believes that Takaichi Sanae’s support for Taiwan is extremely important, and Taiwan should not let Japan feel alone. She urged people to show their support with concrete actions, including buying more Japanese seafood and traveling more to Japan.
Lin Chu-Yin commented that now is the best time for Taiwan and Japan to deepen economic and industrial cooperation. In the face of high-risk countries that frequently use economic threats, Taiwan should diversify its risks and expand cooperation.