Japan cross-party group's head thanks Taiwan for support after disasters

Keiji Furuya, the head of a cross-party group promoting friendship with Taiwan, expressed his gratitude to President Lai Ching-te for Taiwan's support in reconstruction efforts following the Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan. Furuya, who chairs the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentary League, conveyed Japan's appreciation to Taiwan for its assistance in rebuilding Shuri Castle in Okinawa, a prefecture in Japan's south.

The group's delegation of 27 Diet members visited Taiwan to attend a ceremony marking the island's National Day on Saturday. In addition to financial aid, Taiwan provided red cypress trees from its own forests to be used as building material for Shuri Castle's reconstruction, which was destroyed by fire in 2019. Furuya recently received criticism from China, which imposed sanctions on him, including an entry ban and asset freeze, accusing him of collusion with Taiwan independence forces and visiting the island repeatedly, all in violation of China's one-China principle.

Despite this, Furuya's pro-Taiwan stance has garnered support from Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, who reportedly called China's sanctions "a great honor" in an email to him. China, led by the Communist Party, views Taiwan as a rebellious province destined for reunification with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan and China have been separate entities since their split following a civil war in 1949.