Japan remains favorite country for Taiwanese: poll

Taiwan has done a good job in keeping Covid cases low, so hope to see them visiting Japan soon.

They are very respected visitors here by the Japanese.

A Taiwan Emergency is a Japan Emergency!

We are making plans to support and help Taiwan if that day ever comes.

Dear Taiwan,

Please support Japan in return whenever possible. Support Japan's rise again, Taiwan will benefit economically, but more importantly security wise. The Stronger Japan is, the stronger Taiwan is as well!!

I've visited Japan many times since 03/11, and met too many Taiwanese to count. They were all nice. They were fun, too. I have photos of them with me, dancing for me, goofing off and a few of them even had their friends photograph them as they gave me a kiss (definitely NOT a Japanese habit). I even sent my daughter to the university in Taipei for a year of international politics, and she always says I should go there instead of back to Japan for the umpteenth time.

I have a feeling Taiwan will ease incoming COVID-related tourist testing requirements long before the J-Gov, so if I'm flying across the Pacific from BC, it looks like Taiwan's next on the list.

It has been known for a long time that Taiwan was less bitter towards the Japanese from the period of Japanese rule than other East Asian countries, perhaps because they have been ruled by so many outsiders and were no worse treated by the Japanese than the Chinese and others before them. Today Japan is an advanced economy that is no threat to them and Taiwan needs friends to maintain its freedom, sovereignty and democratic way of life in the face of Chinese imperialism.

GuruMick, valid point, island peoples tend to view the sea as a highway rather than a barrier, continental Europeans no doubt had this underlying mind set and still do to this day. The British since the Anglo-Saxons have to a greater or lesser extent seen the sea for what it is, a highway.

A survey conducted by a research agency commissioned by Tokyo's embassy in Taipei would not convince readers that it is totally valid and reliable. Hence, rather inconsequential..

That is why I gave a link about a poll conducted by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation in 2017

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-tops-list-taiwanese-favorite-countries

A survey conducted by a research agency commissioned by Tokyo's embassy in Taipei would not convince readers that it is totally valid and reliable. Hence, rather inconsequential..

Taiwan is one of my favorite countries as well.

Not all Taiwanese like Japan, I'm afraid.

I bet and you bet. What do you expect? That is why it is 60%

There seems many Japanese who hate Japan

Their kids getting bullied cause they don’t have a Japanese name and all….

Blaming kids to disgrace the society. I am sure you're you had spent your kid days all over the world. Lol.

I've been to Taiwan twice, and I loved it. I was treated so well by the Taiwanese in bars and dance halls. Taipei has a great and accepting gay town.

Not surprising. Unlike Japan's other Asian neighbours, Taiwan doesn't really have that many reasons to get into fights over history with Japan. And the cultures indeed are very similar, which makes Japanese culture easy for Taiwanese to appreciate.

I have travelled around most of Taiwan and its society seems to me friendlier, opener, and more relaxed, albeit slightly less affluent than Japan. Also, being the tiny island nation it is, it doesn't have the same delusions of grandeur as some of the larger countries in the region.

Let’s see what the Taiwanese has to say when they actually live here and experience how the Japanese society treats them for simply being different.

Their kids getting bullied cause they don’t have a Japanese name and all….

This reflects the people's hope that Taiwan will continue to exist as a peaceful democratic nation like Japan. Probably including a defense pact with Japan and the U.S. as well. Taiwan most certainly does not want to be devoured by the Chinese CCP dictatorship.

Well argued, @ OssanAmerica.

The way things are going, it would be good if Taiwan replaced India in the QUAD. Their military tech is far superior to India - and they are trusted and reliable.

If the PRC protest, who cares.

It's true, I often visit the community in Taiwan. I have some Taiwanese friends and most of them are very fond of Japanese culture. One shouldn't be surprised by this, despite the fact that people in this community are keen to criticize Japan. However, many products from Japan are very popular. China's political parties control everything, and TV stations often incite people to hate Japan and the United States. For example, many TV stations have broadcasted World War II for decades, including the Korean Civil War propaganda party. This is why many Chinese love Japanese culture, but many Chinese hate Japan. Taiwanese are not influenced by China.

The 5% Taiwanese hold good view with China is enough, China just need these 5% to sit at the top help administering the island. And China having 1% margin over U.S. that is very great!

Of course, Taiwanese consider Japan their "favorite" country.

Taiwan companies, like china and south korea, steal technology from japan for a long time...Sharp was bought (subsidized with Japanese taxpayers') for peanuts.

Huge fishing boats (100 ton) of taiwam fishing inJapan's EEZ near Taketomi, Tarama blocking Okinawan fishermen from fishing tuna in seas around Okinawa.

I wonder if Taiwanese were asked about other countries than Japan, the US and China in the survey. I am curious how they view South East Asian neighbors.

This reflects the people's hope that Taiwan will continue to exist as a peaceful democratic nation like Japan. Probably including a defense pact with Japan and the U.S. as well. Taiwan most certainly does not want to be devoured by the Chinese CCP dictatorship.

" Pacific Worlds " by Prof. Matt Matsuda describes how the indigenous Taiwan people were the ones who took to the sea in big canoes to begin the inhabitation of many of the islands of Oceania.

Great read.

Helps understand the Pacific peoples as interconnected by the vast ocean , not as Europeans saw it, separated by it.

Not surprising the Taiwanese feel an affinity with Japan

Survey in 2019

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3817605

Japan

China

Survey in 2017

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-tops-list-taiwanese-favorite-countries

Singapore

Japan

I've met some people from Taiwan. They're very nice people. Very down to earth.

Another "What do you think of us?" article to make a few insecure people feel good about themselves for some reason.

A- JT gaijin to Taiwanese:

1) Don't come to Japan; it's a crappy country where you'll be permanently mistreated and exploited.

2) Why come here when everywhere else is so much better!

3) You must remove those rose-tinted glasses.

B- JT gaijin to J Gov (crying, runny nose and all):

1) Please, PLEASE open the gates; I want to return after being locked outside due to Covid-19 restriction.

2) I haven't gone abroad to visit my folks for fear of not being allowed to return if I leave the country!

(I still don't understand why they're so desperate to return to a dump anyway!)

3) Please I want to live here, not in any of the other more advanced countries I usually refer to (even though it's so bad here)

Jeeeeez.

In East Asia, Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea, and Taiwan hate each other, with the exception of Japan-Taiwan relation. It's very interesting.

Makes me think that Taiwanese who took this survey clearly have no knowledge about the many other wonderful countries in the world! The research agency responsible this survey was probably a Japanese company therefore NO BIAS WHATSOEVER… lol ! 

One example;

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings

Makes me think that Taiwanese who took this survey clearly have no knowledge about the many other wonderful countries in the world! The research agency responsible this survey was probably a Japanese company therefore NO BIAS WHATSOEVER… lol !

LOL ! Exactly!!

Taiwan itself is such a nice country to visit and even for long term residents who find it much better than Japan! The only problem is the constant threat of China which is looming!

Taiwan itself is such a nice country to visit and even for long term residents who find it much better than Japan!

I've heard that many times before.

The only problem is the constant threat of China which is looming!

true.

Wait till they face the amount of tax they have to pay in Japan. Thats why even Hong Kongers wont come even with open arms.

Good point!

I see those rose-tinted glasses are selling well over there.

Very old Taiwanese remember their old good Japanese days and they do not twist history, they teach them as it was. I had several occasions to mingle with Taiwanese (students) when I lived in Canada and in US.

They literally said " I like Japan, I like everything in Japan" which did sound a little too much

There is much love and support for Japanese people from Taiwan’s people. Friendly neighbors! Please support Taiwan’s businesses when it is ever possible.

Actually a bit surprised that the figure is not over 90 percent. Taiwanese love Japan - it is the nation they aspire to be.

Japan might be the best place for Taiwanese refugees once China steps up the ante or maybe not?

If it ever happened, Taiwanese would fit in seamlessly in Japan. Many are completely fluent in Japanese language, and embrace the same customs, working style and lifestyle. In some cases, they are more Japanese than the Japanese!

This difference between Taiwan and Korea(s) says all

Makes me think that Taiwanese who took this survey clearly have no knowledge about the many other wonderful countries in the world! The research agency responsible this survey was probably a Japanese company therefore NO BIAS WHATSOEVER… lol ! Taiwan itself is such a nice country to visit and even for long term residents who find it much better than Japan! The only problem is the constant threat of China which is looming!

Ironic when only America is standing between you and the CCP.

Wait till they face the amount of tax they have to pay in Japan. Thats why even Hong Kongers wont come even with open arms.

Japan might be the best place for Taiwanese refugees once China steps up the ante or maybe not?