Taiwanese Lawmakers Rally in Support of Japanese Prime Minister: "A Contingency for Japan Is Our Issue"

Former Prime Minister Abe's "Pineapple Solidarity" Revisited

"We must take this opportunity to declare, 'A contingency for Japan is a contingency for Taiwan.'"

This statement was made by Taiwanese legislator Chiu Yi-ying. Following President Lai Ching-te's "sushi certification shot," there has been a significant outpouring of support for Japan within Taiwan's political circles. This mirrors the atmosphere of solidarity between Japan and Taiwan in 2021, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe posted a "pineapple certification shot" after China banned imports of Taiwanese pineapples.

Sushi certification shot of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and pineapple certification shot of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Screenshots from Tsai Ing-wen's Facebook and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's X respectively. Yonhap News Agency

On November 21, Yonhap News Agency, citing Taiwanese outlets such as the Central News Agency (CNA) and Liberty Times, reported on the call from Chiu Yi-ying, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). On this day, Chiu urged Taiwan's national airlines and the Tourism Bureau to implement support policies for travel to Japan.

She held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan alongside fellow DPP lawmakers Hsu Chih-chieh, Lee Pai-yi, Lin Chiu-yin, and Huang Chieh, emphasizing the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. She argued, "Let us demonstrate immediate support for Japan, such as by offering discounted airfare to Japan for 1,000 New Taiwan dollars (approximately 47,000 won)."

These developments are reminiscent of 2021, when former Prime Minister Abe fostered a sense of solidarity between Japan and Taiwan by posting a pineapple certification shot in response to China's ban on Taiwanese pineapple imports.

In fact, legislator Lin Chiu-yin referenced the time when former Prime Minister Abe supported Taiwan by eating Taiwanese agricultural products, stating that Taiwan should now reciprocate that goodwill.

Huang Chieh, who was also present, asserted, "Taiwan must ensure that Japan does not feel isolated, and we should demonstrate this through actions such as purchasing Japanese seafood and increasing travel to Japan."

Previously, after China resumed its ban on Japanese seafood imports in response to Prime Minister Takaiichi's remarks about intervening in a Taiwan contingency, President Lai on November 20 released a photo on social media of sushi made with Japanese seafood. Pointing to sushi containing Taiwanese squid and Hokkaido scallops, he said, "This is a testament to the strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan."