Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities through promoting military reforms and increasing spending while meeting with Japanese parliamentarians, and reiterated a similar message in a meeting with US lawmakers on the same day.

Lai made the remarks while hosting a delegation led by Japanese Representative Shigeru Ishiba, adding that Taiwan and Japan should shore up their ties to secure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan and Japan have an abiding friendship that has grown stronger from the shared challenges of earthquakes and the global COVID-19 pandemic, Lai said, adding that the two nations have a brotherly bond.

A few days ago, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena in statements through a French press agency said that Paraguay recognizes Taiwan’s right to self-determination as a nation, and that the relationship between Paraguay and Taiwan has lasted for 67 years and there are no plans to change it.

This forceful affirmation by the Guarani chief executive clearly indicates the firmness of relations between the two states and that they have solid links, which make it last over time. The right to self-determination is the right of people to decide their own forms of government, and pursue economic, social and cultural development, as well as to structure their countries freely, without external interference and in accordance with the principle of equity.