Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Sept. 14 that Japan is truly grateful for the sincere friendship and generous assistance from Taiwan in the wake of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan March 11.
Although former Prime Minister Naoto Kan had earlier expressed the country’s appreciation to Taiwan authorities and the Japanese government also conveyed its gratitude through website and newspaper ads, “I still want to express again my genuine thankfulness for Taiwan’s gracious and special support,” Noda said.
The statement marked the first time that the Japanese government has formally thanked Taiwan at the Diet, the country’s parliament.
Noda’s remarks came in response to parliamentarian Yoshihisa Furugawa of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, who said in a Diet session that Japan has deliberately ignored the friendship of the Taiwanese people.
“Japan should repay kindness with sincerity, which I believe represents the noble spirit of the nation.” Furugawa said he did not bring the issue up for diplomatic reasons. “I am making the inquiry as a grateful person.”
In related news, a recent survey by Japan’s market research firm NTT Data Smis Co. Ltd. put Taiwan second on the list of countries the Japanese are most thankful to for earthquake support.
According to the survey conducted in June, 51 percent of the 1,000 adult respondents said they were most grateful to the U.S. for the rescue operations conducted by U.S. troops stationed in Japan.
Taiwan came in second, winning the hearts of 41 percent of those surveyed with its world-leading donations.
According to the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan donated over NT$5.5 billion (US$186 million) to Japan’s earthquake victims. (THN)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw