LDP Youth Division Overseas Study Delegation Visits Taiwan People’s Party

Chou Yu-hsiu: The TPP Calls for a Pragmatic Evaluation of Nuclear Power to Address Energy Transition and Geopolitical Risks

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan Youth Division Overseas Study Delegation, comprising over 60 Japanese local Councilors, civil society representatives, and student groups, visited the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) today. The delegation was led by delegation chief and LDP Youth Division Director, Representative Yasutaka Nakasone, joined by Deputy Delegation Chiefs, Representatives Shojiro Hiranuma and member of House of Councillors Masayuki Kamiya, Osaka Prefectural Assemblyman Akira Suda, Aichi Prefectural Assemblyman Yasuhiko Tanaka, and Youth Department Director, Representative Tatsumasa Kato. The group engaged in in-depth exchanges with the TPP.

The meeting was chaired by TPP Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu, with Legislator Lin Yi-chun, Policy and Strategy Department Executive Director Lai Hsiang-ling, Foreign Affairs Department Director Lin Tzu-yu, Deputy Director Liao Wei-hung, and Youth Department Deputy Director Chiang Meng-lin in attendance to hold extensive discussions on nuclear energy policy, youth participation, party communications, and judicial reform.

In his remarks, Secretary-General Chou emphasized that both Taiwan and Japan are island nations heavily dependent on imported energy sources such as natural gas and petroleum. He noted that the two countries face similar severe challenges regarding national defense security and the risk of energy shortages for industrial development. Chou stated that the TPP advocates a pragmatic evaluation of nuclear power development to address the challenges of energy transition and geopolitical risks, and is actively promoting the referendum to extend the operation of Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 to ensure industrial and national defense security. He expressed hope for multi-level cooperation with Japan to deepen collaboration in industry and defense.

Legislator Lin Yi-chun, in her speech, especially thanked Deputy Delegation Chief, member of House of Councillors Masayuki Kamiya and Osaka Assemblyman Akira Suda for visiting Hualien last August with the LDP Youth Division to extend sympathies after the April earthquake. Lin emphasized that their action symbolizes the deep friendship between Taiwan and Japan.

Representative Yasutaka Nakasone stated that he has had opportunities to meet with TPP former Chairman Ko Wen-je in the past, as well as with current Chairman Huang Kuo-chang this May, and had lunch with TPP legislators during his visit to the Legislative Yuan yesterday. He expressed his pleasure in once again leading a delegation for exchanges with the TPP. Nakasone also proactively shared his views on nuclear power, noting that while striving for renewable energy goals, there remains a need to rely on nuclear energy for stable baseload power supply, and both Taiwan and Japan must continue to address nuclear safety issues with seriousness.

The two parties also exchanged experiences on how political parties can rally youth support. Secretary-General Chou shared that the key to the TPP becoming the party most supported by Taiwan’s youth is its commitment to listening to young people’s voices, competing domestically with other parties on policy, while standing united internationally for Taiwan. Delegation members were also interested in the TPP’s use of self-produced media. Chou explained that, since mainstream media resources are largely controlled by the two major parties, the TPP has established its own studio and regularly produces programs, adopting social media flexibly to make its ideas and policies accessible to more young people.

Executive Director Lai Hsiang-ling highlighted that the TPP has broken through the longstanding Blue-Green (KMT-DPP) dominance and normalized citizen participation in politics; she herself came from the labor movement and entered politics through the party’s open recruitment mechanism. Regarding the issue of declining fertility rates, Lai noted that the TPP has been actively promoting the legalization of surrogacy, with current legislators advocating for the rights of families in need. She added that, in response to potential energy crises arising from geopolitical risks, the TPP continues to promote the referendum on the extension of Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 this Saturday, while also striving for judicial reform to safeguard justice and fairness in Taiwan.