President Lai describes Taiwan as a "town on a mountain"; Furuya (古屋): "I felt the resolve to defend the Taiwan Strait"

More than 27 members of Japan's cross-party parliamentary league, the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentary League, visited Taiwan from the 10th and held a press conference at a hotel in Taipei. Chairman Furuya Keiji (古屋 圭司) concluded that the visit had been meaningful and shared his views on President Lai Ching-te's (頼清徳) speech and Taiwan's defense policy. The press conference stressed that although there is currently no specific cooperation between the Japanese and Taiwanese governments, exchanges should be further strengthened.

The league also changed its name in June from the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association to the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentary League, making this visit to Taiwan its first large-scale delegation under the new name. Chairman Furuya Keiji (古屋 圭司) said that the expression of support for Taiwan had become clearer. The participation of 27 cross-party Diet members was described at the press conference as “unusual,” demonstrating the organization's presence. During the visit, the delegation also exchanged views with business organizations and met with senior government officials, indicating a positive desire to deepen Japan-Taiwan economic relations.

On the economic front, the discussion covered Taiwan's declining external dependence, GDP growth and diversification of investment destinations, while pointing to the potential for a Japan-Taiwan industrial cluster through investment in Japan, ASEAN, India and elsewhere. The affinity between the two sides in new technology fields was also addressed, and expectations were expressed for expanded technological cooperation between Japan and Taiwan. The delegation also attended a ceremony for the introduction of new rolling stock on the Taiwan High Speed Rail and reported on its inspection, suggesting stronger cooperation in the transport sector. Finally, it stressed shared values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and expressed an intention to promote projects to advance future exchanges.