TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In response to the devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed solidarity on Friday (Jan. 5), stating, "Japan's concerns are Taiwan's concerns."
Using the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, President Tsai reached out to both the Taiwanese public and Japanese leadership. She announced that the Taiwanese government had established a relief fund for donations to aid Japan, writing her message in Japanese to emphasize the close ties between the two nations.
President Tsai further clarified that the collected funds would support the Japanese government's rescue and reconstruction efforts in the Ishikawa Prefecture, severely affected by the earthquake. She emphasized the familial bond between Taiwan and Japan, asserting their mutual support in times of crisis and expressing hope for a swift return to normalcy in the affected areas.
In a direct message to Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on his X stream, President Tsai conveyed her wishes for peace and recovery for the nation.