Taiwanese city of Su’ao cancels their sister city event with Ishigaki due to Senkaku name change

Taiwanese city of Su’ao cancels their sister city event with Ishigaki due to Senkaku name change

The Senkaku Islands


June 25, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Wu Li Jun

Ishigaki’s decision to change the name of the Senkaku islands from “Tonoshiro” to “Tonoshiro Senkaku” has had an effect on their relationship with their sister city. Ishigaki and the city of Su’ao in Yinlan, Taiwan were on track to celebrate the 25th anniversary of becoming sister cities this year. Su’ao mayor Lee Ming-che told this paper that, “We were planning on an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary in September or October, however because of Ishigaki’s decision to change the name of the islands we are forced to cancel the event.”

Su’ao and Ishigaki had up until now been undertaking a variety of cultural exchange projects such as education and exchanging local specialties. Earlier this year in April when someone in Ishigaki contracted the coronavirus, Su’ao immediately sent healthcare workers a gift of masks and protective gear.

Lee commented, “Both Taiwan and Japan have their own opinions on the name change, but I do not want anyone to think these political stances has negatively affected the relationship built by the two cities,” adding that he intended for the cultural exchange program to continue.

As for the decision to cancel the 25th anniversary event, he said, “Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama was planning to invite us to an event, however currently the fisherman in Su’ao are very angry with the name change, and so I do not think it would be suitable to hold an event this year.”

In response to Ishigaki’s name change, the government of Yinlan County submitted a proposal to Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior to change their name of the Senkaku Islands from “Daiyoutai” to “Toucheng Daiyoutai” on June 22.
(English translaiton by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

go to japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]