Taiwan representative in Japan boycotts Nagasaki anniversary ceremony over seating

Taiwan's chief economic envoy to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, declined to attend this year's commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki. He accused local officials of being pro-China and insulting Taiwan's sovereignty. Lee and two deputies boycotted the event, opting to send a lower-ranking official from Fukuoka.

Lee contended that Nagasaki deliberately denied Taiwan's status as a nation, disregarding its sovereignty and dignity. The mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, denied these allegations, stating that seats for Taiwanese officials were just behind other envoys and not distinguished as nondiplomatic guests. Taiwan and Japan normalized diplomatic ties in 1972, ending war animosities.

The memorial at Nagasaki's Peace Park was attended by representatives from 98 countries and three international organizations. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, along with five other G7 country ambassadors, boycotted the event in 2024 due to concerns about Israel's invitation and safety issues.