Taiwan VP Lai Ching-te’s sympathy letter to Japan published

TOKYO (TVBS News) — A letter from Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te offering sympathy to Japan for the Noto Peninsula earthquake was published on Thursday (Feb. 1) in the Hokkoku Newspaper. The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, was hit by an earthquake on Jan. 1, and Lai's message of concern was published a month later.

Lai's message was posted with a similar one from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, adding significance. In his letter, Lai indicated Taiwan's desire to do its part in the relief and recovery efforts, illustrating the interconnected destinies of Taiwan and Japan.

Lai's letter mentioned Taiwan's government quickly expressed its willingness to provide necessary aid after the disaster, including a contribution of 60 million Japanese yen (approximately NT＄13 million). Private donations from Taiwan have already reached 2.5 billion yen (approximately NT＄530 million).

Recalling Yoichi Hatta, an engineer from Ishikawa Prefecture, Lai memorialized Hatta's work over a century ago on the Wusanto Reservoir and the Chianan Irrigation in Tainan, Taiwan, highlighting that his contributions have not been forgotten by the Taiwanese people.

"No matter how lengthy and arduous the recovery and reconstruction work may be, as long as everyone holds hope for the future, dawn will surely not be far away. The Taiwanese people will always be with you," Lai wrote to the victims of the earthquake.

The newspaper also featured a photo of Lai's 2011 visit to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, when he was the mayor of Tainan.

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