When President Lai Ching-te met with a visiting delegation from the "Meeting of Members of Parliament Thinking About Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait" yesterday (8) afternoon, he said that in the face of China's compound threats through military operations, gray zone intrusions, and transnational repression, democratic countries around the world, including Taiwan and Japan, can only protect democracy, peace, and prosperity by uniting and cooperating, improving their defense capabilities, and jointly exerting a force of deterrence. We hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as national strategy, economic and trade security, high-tech industries, and social resilience in the future, so as to promote a closer and more stable relationship between Taiwan and Japan.

When the president delivered his speech, he first welcomed the distinguished guests from the visiting delegation to Taiwan. He also said that the "Congress of Members of Parliament Thinking About Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait" was established in mid-June this year. In less than three months, it took concrete actions to visit Taiwan to express its strong concern and support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is quite admirable. It is believed that the establishment of the association will not only increase the Japanese parliament's attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait, but also help to find the best strategy to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and realize former Prime Minister Abe's vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The president mentioned that over the past month or so, the people of Taiwan have been very concerned about the recovery situation from the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have always helped each other when facing natural disasters, earthquakes, and infectious diseases, demonstrating a friendship that is a friend in need, which has also made Taiwan-Japan relations better and stronger.

The President pointed out that in the face of China's continuous compound threats through military operations, gray zone intrusions, and transnational repression, which are escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea, and undermining regional peace and stability, democratic countries around the world, including Taiwan and Japan, can only protect the democracy, peace, and prosperity that we rely on by uniting and working together, continuously improving their defense capabilities, and jointly exerting deterrence.

The president mentioned that Taiwan's defense budget has accounted for 3% of GDP this year, and next year's defense budget will exceed 3%, and the proportion will continue to increase. It is expected to reach the GDP target of 5% by 2030. The government will also vigorously promote national defense independence, strengthen asymmetric combat capabilities such as artificial intelligence and unmanned vehicles, and actively build a resilient national defense system to achieve the goal of protecting the country.

The President expressed that he very much looks forward to strengthening cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in the fields of national strategy, economic and trade security, high-tech industries, and strengthening social resilience in the future, especially in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, and robots. Finally, the President once again thanked the visiting guests for their efforts in promoting Taiwan-Japan relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and wished the trip a complete success and fruitful results.

In his speech, President Haruo Kitamura first thanked President Lai for taking the time to meet with him despite his busy schedule, and said that the important purpose of this trip is to turn Taiwan-Japan friendship into practical actions and continue to promote the development of bilateral relations. Life is extremely wonderful because of having close friends, and the same is true for countries and people. Taiwan is a close friend of Japan, and we hope that the people of Japan and Taiwan can once again appreciate each other's profound friendship and keep it in their hearts.

President Haruo Kitamura mentioned that when Japan was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Taiwan immediately sent a disaster relief team, and the government and private sector raised 25 billion yen in disaster relief donations. No other country in the world could do this. If our close friend Taiwan faces danger, Japan will do its best to face it together.

President Haruo Kitamura believes that more importantly, Japan and the Japanese people must continue to show the world their full support and determination to defend friends in crisis. He believes that showing such determination will help resolve the crisis. Practical actions will also be taken in the future, including promoting the formulation of a Japanese version of the Taiwan Travel Law and the Taiwan Relations Law, promoting exchanges between high-level government officials from both sides, and promoting various defense cooperation.

Chairman Haruo Kitamura said that although the strength of each member of Congress may be limited, he will hold firm determination, unite more like-minded people, actively fight for the Japanese government, and do his best to realize the expectations of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, establish a strong relationship with Taiwan, and promote peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also hopes that Taiwan and Japan will work together to create a national future.

The visiting guests also included Japanese Senators Yoshihiko Yamada, Ishihira, and Mizuho Umemura, Representatives Karu Nishida, Mitsuhiro Yokota, and Kei Miki, etc. They were accompanied by Foreign Minister Lin Jialong, Deputy Representative of the Japan Taiwan Exchange Association's Taipei Office Masashi Mizobuchi, and Secretary-General of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Hong Yingjie. They came to the Presidential Palace to meet the President. Secretary-General of the Presidential Palace Pan Mengan, and Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu were also present.