Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu announced a donation of 60 million Japanese yen (US$414,412) Jan. 4 to assist with post-earthquake reconstruction in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wu said a dedicated account has also been set up by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to receive donations from the public till Jan. 19 to help those affected by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the East Asian country’s west coast on the first day of 2024. The disaster has killed more than 80 people and injured hundreds while leaving behind a trail of devastation.
The minister made the announcement alongside MOHW Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan and Kazuyuki Katayama, chief representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, during a news conference in Taipei City.
According to Wu, Taiwan and Japan enjoy a close relationship and the people share a deep bond. The two sides have a long history of helping each other in times of need, he said, citing the dispatch of rescue teams from Japan following the earthquakes in the southern city of Tainan in 2016 and eastern county of Hualien in 2018, as well as Japan’s donation of 4.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan during the height of the pandemic. Such outpourings of support and friendship are sincerely appreciated by the people, he said.
The public and private donations will strengthen the virtuous cycle between the two special partners and convey Taiwan’s wholehearted well wishes that those affected by the disaster will return to their normal lives as soon as possible, the minister added.
In response, Katayama expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Taiwan. He said he immediately received condolences from President Tsai Ing-wen and others after the earthquake, adding that Taiwan is a true friend that always extends a helping hand when Japan needs it most. (SFC-E)
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