Taipei: Taiwan’s government expressed its anticipation to participate in the upcoming memorial event in Japan, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. This announcement follows a recent decision by the city of Nagasaki to retract its initial stance on not inviting Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, the situation was addressed by Taiwan’s representative office in Fukuoka in collaboration with the Nagasaki City government, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in their statement to CNA. The MOFA stated that they would determine the delegation for the August 9 event upon receiving the official invitation.
Japanese media reported that Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki communicated to Taiwan that their attendance was now accepted, although he did not specify when this communication occurred or how Taipei reacted. This marks a significant shift from Suzuki’s statement on May 16, where he reiterated that invitations were extended only to nations with formal diplomatic ties to Japan.
Despite the absence of official diplomatic relations between Japan and Taiwan, Suzuki’s administration reconsidered its stance in early June, contemplating how to accommodate Taiwan’s participation. MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuangwei previously described the exclusion as “regrettable” but reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to fostering peace and cooperation with international partners.
The historical context of the memorial dates back to 1945 when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, respectively, to halt Japan’s military actions during World War II. The bombings resulted in massive civilian casualties and remain the only instances of nuclear weapon use in conflict. Japan subsequently surrendered on August 15, concluding the war.
In parallel developments, Hiroshima has invited Taiwan to its August 6 memorial. MOFA has confirmed receipt of this invitation and is in the process of deciding its representation. Should Taiwan attend both events, it would signify the first instance of its participation in both cities’ memorial anniversaries.