安倍首相「日台親善に多大な貢献」　李登輝元総統死去受け

　安倍晋三首相は３１日、台湾の李登輝元総統の死去を受け、首相官邸で記者団に「誠に痛惜の念に堪えない。日本と台湾の親善関係、友好増進のため多大な貢献をされた方だ。心からご冥福をお祈りする」と述べた。「一つの中国」原則を主張する中国に配慮し、李氏の葬儀に特使などは派遣しない方針だ。
　首相は、李氏の功績について「台湾に自由と民主主義、人権、普遍的な価値を（根付かせ）、日台関係の礎を築いた」と指摘。「常に日本に対し特別な思いで接して来られた。多くの日本国民は格別の親しみを持っている」と語った。（2020/07/31-12:33）

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday expressed his deep condolences over the passing of former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, praising his contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and Taiwan.
   "It's extremely painful," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's office, following Lee's death on Thursday at the age of 97.
   The former Taiwanese leader "greatly contributed to boosting friendly relations between Japan and Taiwan," Abe said. "I offer my heartfelt prayers" for Lee, he said.
   Lee established "freedom, democracy, human rights and universal values in Taiwan" and "laid the foundation for Japan-Taiwan relations," Abe said, adding, "Lee always had special thoughts about Japan, and many Japanese people have particularly friendly feelings about him."
   Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said he met with Lee in Taiwan when Japan's Liberal Democratic Party was out of power. Lee "was already nearly 90 years old at the time but was full of energy," Suga said at a press conference. "I remember him talking about his thoughts about Taiwan and Japan enthusiastically."