Taipei: Frank Hsieh, Taiwan's former representative to Japan, assumed the chairmanship of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (TJRA) on Tuesday, succeeding Su Jia-chyuan in leading the body responsible for representing Taipei's interests in Tokyo in the absence of diplomatic ties.
According to Focus Taiwan, Hsieh, 79, expressed honor in taking over the role after serving as Taiwan's representative to Japan for eight years, from 2016 to 2024. He stated that his goal is to elevate the cordial relationship between the two nations to a new pinnacle. Hsieh took to Facebook to express his gratitude to Su and the other association members for their contributions to bilateral relations over the past three years. He committed to advancing the Taiwan-Japan friendship into a partnership defined by a shared sense of community, fostering peace and prosperity.
Kuo Jyh-huei, an association member and former minister of economic affairs, reported that Hsieh was selected as the next chairman on Tuesday, followed by an official handover ceremony. The Taiwan-Japan Relations Association was established in 1972 shortly after Japan severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). It operates as a semi-official body overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage relations with Japan, working alongside its Japanese counterpart, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.