Former Taiwan premier in delegation for Shinzo Abe state funeral in Tokyo

Island’s former parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng, former premier Frank Hsieh and Su Jia-chyuan, who heads Taipei-Tokyo relations body, will attend

Abe was a popular figure in Taiwan for his support of the island even though Japan, like most countries, has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, not Taipei

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The state funeral of assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe will be held in Tokyo on September 27. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:11pm, 15 Sep 2022Updated: 5:27pm, 15 Sep 2022

Taiwan will send a three-person delegation to attend the state funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe this month, including a former parliament speaker and a former premier, the island’s presidential office said on Thursday.

Abe, the longest-serving leader in modern Japan, was fatally shot at close range during a campaign rally on July 8.

Vice-President William Lai attended Abe’s private funeral less than a week later in a personal capacity as a friend, although the trip still drew a diplomatic complaint from Beijing, which views the island as its own territory.

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Taiwan’s presidential office said the delegation would consist of former parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng, former premier Frank Hsieh who is now the de facto ambassador to Japan and Su Jia-chyuan, who heads a body in charge of relations with Tokyo in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The three had a “deep friendship and close interaction” with Abe for many years, and their attendance fully demonstrated the firm friendship between Taiwan and Japan, office spokesman Xavier Chang said in a statement.

The state funeral will take place on September 27.

Abe was a popular figure in Taiwan for his support of the island, although Japan, like most countries, has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, not Taipei.